Operational and service fees applicable to mobile top-up cards were withdrawn on the orders of the Supreme Court.
Under the new rate calculation, customers will now have Rs88.89 credited to their balance. Previously the balance would come to Rs76.94 after activating a Rs100 card.
Earlier in lieu of various fees and taxes, Rs23.06 was deducted on mobile phone cards. This has now been reduced to Rs11.11.
On June 11, 2018, a three-judge SC bench headed by the CJP Mian Saqib Nisar suspended tax collection on mobile cards.
“Rs38.08 are deducted on a prepaid mobile card of Rs100, which is illegal,” the former CJP had noted. The bench had later adjourned the hearing of the case for six months.
Later, the federal and all provincial governments had challenged the interim order. The case was, however, taken up after Justice Nisar’s retirement in January.
It is estimated that the state faced a loss of more than Rs90 billion due to the interim order.
In April, the top court disAposed of the suo motu case and restored all taxes.
