Mobile service providers in Pakistan collected over Rs. 84 billion in taxes from consumers during the first nine months of the current fiscal year, reflecting the significant contribution of the telecom sector to the national treasury. According to official data presented by the Ministry of Finance during a National Assembly question hour session, a total of Rs. 84.24 billion was amassed from July 2024 to March 2025.
These taxes, collected as part of telecom-related duties and levies, were deposited directly into the national exchequer, the Ministry confirmed. The revelation underscores the substantial tax burden shouldered by telecom users in Pakistan, where mobile services remain one of the most widely used digital utilities, especially amid growing internet penetration and digital connectivity.
The same parliamentary session also brought into focus broader fiscal developments. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) disclosed that 2.39 million new taxpayers have been registered following recent tax legislation amendments. As of April 29, 2025, the total number of tax filers has surged to 6.59 million. This total comprises individual filers as well as 106,118 Associations of Persons (AOPs) and 93,749 companies, indicating growing compliance within the formal economy.
In addition to fiscal matters, lawmakers were briefed on the government’s privatization program, which aims to offload a total of 24 public sector enterprises (PSEs) in a three-phase process over the next five years. The Cabinet Committee on Privatization approved this initiative in its meeting held on August 2, 2024.
The first phase, which is targeted for completion within the next year, includes the privatization of several major entities. These include Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), First Women Bank, House Building Finance Corporation, Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL), and Pakistan Engineering Company (PECO). The government also plans to privatize power distribution companies in this phase, such as Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO), Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO), and Sindh Engineering Limited.
Meanwhile, concerns about outdated socioeconomic data were also raised. The Ministry of Planning revealed that no comprehensive nationwide poverty survey has been carried out since 2018. The most recent data, collected during the last survey, indicated that 21.9 percent of Pakistan’s population was living below the poverty line. However, a new survey has now been completed and is expected to be published before the end of 2025, according to Federal Minister Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry.
The disclosures made during this parliamentary session shed light on a range of pressing fiscal, economic, and social developments in Pakistan. The telecom sector’s major contribution through indirect taxation continues to be a focal point of consumer discussions, particularly as mobile and internet services become more essential in daily life. At the same time, the push for broader tax compliance and economic reforms signals the government’s intent to strengthen fiscal discipline and improve public sector efficiency through strategic privatization and updated social policy planning.
