ISLAMABAD: Officials told a briefing in the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance that the tax levied on imported mobile phones is 54 percent of the price.

The meeting of the Standing Committee, chaired by Syed Naveed Qamar, considered several government bills.

During this, the issue of duties on mobile phones was also considered, in which officials of the Tax Policy Office said that 18 percent GST and concessional income tax are levied on mobile phones. Expensive phones are subject to a withholding tax of 11.5 thousand. Phones worth 500 dollars are subject to a tax of 76 thousand.

Officials said that if these phones are manufactured locally, the tax on them is lower. The tax on imported phones is 54 percent of the price. The tax on such phones manufactured locally is reduced to 25 percent.

Syed Naveed Qamar said that when sales tax is imposed on phones, there is no need for income tax. Let modern technology come to the country, it will improve the economy. The tax policy on mobile phones should be presented clearly in the budget of the next financial year.

Parliamentary Budget Office Bill 2026 presented for consideration in the committee

Committee member Javed Hanif said in the meeting that this bill has become a completely government bill. The committee should also have the authority to give budget suggestions. Nafisa Shah said that the Parliamentary Budget Office should also have the authority to monitor and review.

On this occasion, Syed Naveed Qamar said that the Ministry of Finance should not be worried, the real authority should remain with them.

In the committee, Bilal Azhar Kayani said that the financial requirements of the Parliamentary Budget Office will be met by the National Assembly. Later, the committee approved the establishment of the Parliamentary Budget Office.