IT export revenue: GST 'issue' to be taken up with Sindh CM: Amin

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to take up the sales tax issue on information technology exports revenue in Sindh with the chief minister - a big hurdle in the promotion of IT industry, as companies are shifting to other provinces to avoid the tax burden.

Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Syed Aminul Haque, while chairing the 7th meeting of the Prime Minister's Taskforce on IT and Telecom, Wednesday stated that that he would soon meet the chief minister Sindh to discuss ending sales tax on IT export revenue.

He said that IT industries were moving from Sindh to the other provinces due to sales tax on IT export revenue.

The minister further stated that the prime minister had special interest in the development of the IT sector of Pakistan.

He said that joint efforts and work with honesty was vital for completion of the vision of digital Pakistan.

Haque further said that the Ministry of IT was committed to increasing IT exports and manufacturing of quality mobile phones in the country.

He said that the work was going on regarding fibrization and steps were being taken for providing broadband services both in unserved and underserved areas of the country.

A senior official who attend the meeting said that it had been reported that information technology companies were shifting from Sindh to other provinces owing to high tax rates in the province.

The MoITT had submitted proposals to the PM's Office for resolving issues related to double taxation of IT companies, said the official, adding that the initiative would help in removing impediments in domestic IT business growth as well. The federal minister further said that the steps were being taken for the development of IT and Telecom sector.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020