As two working days have passed after budget, we couldn’t sense any action moved by cellular companies, regulator or the politicians of the country in order to revert back the imposition of 20 paisa tax on SMS.
Cellular companies are yet to take any decisive action; we were told that they are gathering on a point, however, this hasn’t happened as of now. On other side, our sources at PTA revealed that there is nothing much going on regarding the issue at regulator level too.
Other than one senator, National Assembly inhabitants, not even from opposition benches, raised any voice over the issue.
Media however played its role – as we saw multiple features and news articles appearing in various papers across the country. But one needs to see how much they gonna impress the government, especially when cellular companies are not going to lose much.
As per couple of analysts we spoke with, they were of the opinion that cellular companies want SMS tax-free only because they play a role in customer retention, otherwise, SMS cut will work well for them, they mentioned following two reasons
- SMS, that are not major revenue contributor, was causing huge network utilization, meaning that, more investment in increasing capacity and the maintenance.
- one of them said that SMS revenues will go down by an average of 10 to 15 Million a year, for each operator, other than Mobilink that may see 25 million decrement a year – and in return they will save money by lesser maintenance, capacity building and important of all – no advertising.
- Companies will get a chance for betting at other fronts, such as voice mail, PTT and other VAS that can equally generate revenues for them.
Unexpectedly, politicians are not taking this issue seriously, maybe due to many other serious issues already on the table; however, they could get huge youth support with them by resolving the scenario.
The aggression shown by khazana minister, while saying that “Why people eat less food and send more SMS”, depicts that National Assemble will approve the finance bill, as it is – however, if some efforts made by Ch. Nisaar Ali Khan, can bring different results.
Update: SMS tax has been taken back by government of Pakistan
hopeless update!
I was expecting same from our dearest Pakistani government, anyways let’s wait and watch and see what exactly get implemented:)
Let the time come and speak itself.
Lets just sms-bomb all networks till 1st July… lets use the packages to the full :)
Lets see.. who downs the network and who shows up…
Great Idea!
well another idea could be to find out some decision makers no. and use our packages to send unlimited sms to them
Well… i am unable to understand that why the F Government has imposed straight away 20 paisas tax. Why???
30 june se hoga jo kuch hoga….urti urti khabar ayi hai
In my opinion Government should not impose tax on SMS.
voila!!!!viva la pak govt. such a brilliant descision! i hate it ven im talkin 2 m frndx n they’re continually txting, u wont believe it my cousin keeps on txtin durin mealS!!!!!!!!!
Dear Friends! Yesterday Federal Minister Farooq Sattar were Adressing that 20Paisa Tax on SMS May be withdraw, Let’s See now what happened…………! Hope for the best……..
yeh PPP ki awam dushmon goverment hai so expected
our government can just do this nothing else.if they want to introduce any other service as mentioned like ppt etc..
so this does not mean that they should do this kind of activity to present service…
in my opinion it is just beacause of the sms which are anti president…
theyy cannot do any thing but just to do idiotic actions like this we should all protest it…
Thanks God!
hopeless update.
i am very glad for this.