The Ministry of Information Technology is working on a mobile phone leasing policy, with consultations underway with stakeholders regarding mobile phone financing, Federal Minister for IT Shaza Fatima said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She stated that the draft policy has been shared with mobile phone operators, and efforts are ongoing to decide in the near future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shaza Fatima said the IT Ministry wants to increase mobile phone penetration across Pakistan and is exploring multiple options to achieve this goal. She added that the ministry also supports reducing taxes on imported mobile phones, noting that lower taxes could help improve access and affordability, which in turn may increase overall penetration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Referring to past policies, the IT minister said mobile phones were previously made tax-free for overseas Pakistanis, but the initiative led to widespread misuse. She explained that fraud increased significantly, with multiple institutions becoming involved, as individuals began registering mobile phones using other people\u2019s passports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She said that when she tried to register her own phone, it was discovered that three phones were already registered against her passport. Due to such misuse, the Federal Board of Revenue discontinued the one-phone tax-free facility. Shaza Fatima added that while the government wants to reduce taxes on mobile phones, the FBR maintains that most mobile phones are now manufactured locally in Pakistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n