Senate’s Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunications had met with Senator Shahi Syed in chair.

Progress on implementation status of recommendations of committee concerning increase in the pension of retired PTCL’ employees and policy devised by FBR and PTA about collection of taxes i.e. GST and WHT from cellular users was discussed in meeting.

Secretary Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications, Senators Syed Shibli Faraz, Taj Muhammad Afridi, and Dr. Ghous Muhammad Khan has attended the meeting.

Meeting was informed that court has asked both sides to provide accurate calculations about a number of pensions regarding matter of pensions in Supreme Court of Pakistan and will be resolved according to courts order.

Meetings of PTET and PTCL, as well as the board, had been conducted to implement the final judgment of the Supreme Court Ministry of IT secretary also informed the senators.

Committee Chairman Senator Shahi Syed said that the Pakistan Telecommunication Employees Trust help issues of retired employees of PTCL. PTET managing director told that pensions only issue was about 20% raise announced for civil servants in 2010.

FBR member told the committee that a software developed to collect bi-weekly data of customers of telecom companies while taking about about collection of General Sales Tax and Withholding Tax from cellular operators.

The companies initially reluctant to share data citing, but the matter has been resolved after involving the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority. The committee assured that there would not be any further delays.

The committee strongly recommended that withholding tax should deduct from cards worth rupees 100. The advisory group additionally asked for PTA to pay heed from free SIMs being sold in extensive numbers across country.