A growing internal revolt is brewing in the federal government as top ministers openly criticize the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority's (PTA) "excessive" and "unjust" tax on mobile phones.
The level of internal government dissent was highlighted by one minister who stated they were "glad to learn from the Minister in charge of PTA that even PTA opposes this excessive tax on mobile phones." This indicates a growing consensus at the highest levels that the current tax structure is unsustainable and counterproductive.
The political action follows an earlier call to action by another prominent figure, Qasim, who had formally urged the Standing Committee on Finance to review the mobile phone taxes. The core argument against the tax regime is its direct negative impact on the country's technological goals. Critics warn that the high costs are actively restricting digital access for millions of Pakistanis and thereby significantly slowing the nation's technological progress in the digital economy.
The pressure is mounting on parliamentary committees to intervene and reform the taxation policy to ensure broader digital inclusion.
