To help stabilise Pakistan’s worsening balance of payments, the government is considering doubling the regulatory tariff on mobile phone imports. According to sources, the increased charges on a single device will range from Rs. 6,000 to Rs. 44,000. The duty structure is divided into five tax slabs.
The Rs. 3000 mobile phone is valued at $ 30-100. The duty is proposed at Rs. 6ooo, the mobile set at Rs. 7500, based on a $ 101-200 worth. On a mobile phone worth Rs. 11000 and valued at $ 201-350, a levy of Rs. 15ooo is recommended. The suggested duty is Rs. 22000 on a Rs. 15000 mobile phone with a $ 351-500 valuation The duty is recommended at Rs. 30,000 on a mobile set for Rs. 22000, and Rs. 44,ooo on a mobile set worth more than $ 500.
It is also considering raising regulatory duties on a variety of other items in order to avoid the financial collapse feared by many experts. The regulatory duty on machinery will be raised by 10%, while the duty on household appliances will be raised to 50%.
Additionally, a 30 percent rise would be placed on the import of power generation apparatus, a ten percent increase on the import of steel products, and a 40 percent increase in the regulatory tax on ceramics.