Shaheer Ahmed
Pakistan is hit with worst inflation of all times. The increasing prices, load shedding, depleting national and foreign reserves, import ban, high taxes, depreciating currency etc. The government seems to be unable to take control over the situation thus calling for more political instability in the country. As if all this was not enough that we are presented with another calamity i.e. phone calls load shedding in Pakistan.
Read More: Load shedding In Pakistan – Rise Of The Dark Night
Due to rising inflation, the government increased the taxes on many imports. This included the fiber optics as well which is used extensively in the telecom industry. Amid ongoing crisis the telecom companies have warned the concerned authorities that increased tax imposed on the industry would lead to phone calls loadshedding in Pakistan.
The officials from telecommunication have brought into the notice of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance that just like electricity the country will have to face phone calls load shedding.
The officials also informed about the increased taxes on the import of fiber optic by 15 %. The officials said “We demand to reduce the advance tax on the imports of fiber optic to 8 per cent. The equipment being used in the telecom industry were declared luxurious items. The import duty has also been hiked by 20%.”
The telecommunication companies are dealing with a lot of problems due to the additional taxes. The officials said during the session that “Fiber optic was used on only 10 per cent towers across Pakistan. We will lose the global race after the tough decisions for the telecom sector. People cannot use ATMs if fiber optic cables are not laid.”
The concerns of telecom companies were forwarded to the Federal Government by the Senate Committee. Recommendations were made to relax import taxes on the fiber optics. If the government fails to implement the demands put forth by the telecom industry, the country should prepare for another loadshedding. The disruption in the fiber optics would further disrupt the working of ATMs.
The government needs to actively resolve the problems of the citizens and the business community. Adding more burden on the nation would exacerbate the problems instead of resolving them.
