The Ministry of Finance informed the National Assembly that more than Rs3.38 trillion has been collected in taxes from mobile phone users over the last five years.
The disclosure was made during a session chaired by Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa Shah. The ministry reported that as of August 2024, Pakistan had 193.098 million cellular subscribers contributing to the tax base.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) highlighted an alarming 800% increase in gas prices within just four months.
Presenting details, the PBS reported a 520% hike in gas tariffs in November 2023, followed by a further 319% increase in February 2024. Electricity prices also surged during the same period, rising by 35% in November and 75% in February.
PBS officials linked the overall inflation to these sharp increases in utility prices, which were implemented under conditions tied to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program.
Discussing food inflation, the PBS revealed that sugar prices rose by 53.5%, palm oil by 61%, and wheat, soybean oil, and crude oil each by 35% over the past five years.
Officials emphasized that these utility price hikes, combined with rising food costs, have contributed significantly to the current inflationary pressures in Pakistan.
