KARACHI: After prices of petrol, gas and electricity, the government is going to jack up taxes on content creators and online freelancers as well which will further exacerbate financial condition of lower income people, Bol news channel reported quoting sources on Monday.
Sources of the Federal Board of Revenue said the taxes would be imposed implementing strict conditions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). They said the upcoming budget would withdraw the perks and subsidies given to them.
According to details, a number of suggestions have been given which could be incorporated in the next budget, including enhancing tax on income of more than one million rupees a year, earning on social media and online freelancing, earning of online games, TikTok and YouTube.
The sources said offices of online platforms and social media applications would be established in Pakistan. Earning through social media apps would be made in Pakistani currency, they added.
Read more: PM directs for timely enforcement of incentives for freelancers, IT companies
On March 4, the then PM Imran Khan had directed the authorities concerned to ensure implementation of the incentives and facilities announced by the government for freelancers and the IT industry within the stipulated time.
The prime minister, chairing a meeting to review the incentives being provided to the IT sector, had said the government was extending maximum facilitation to the sectors with immense potential to support the national economy.
Mentioning the historic package announced by the government for promotion of the IT sector, he had said the government had introduced massive reforms to facilitate the business sector.
He had viewed that the facilitation of the skilled freelancers would lead to increasing the remittances as promotion of the IT exports was among the government’s priorities.
