ISLAMABAD: Officials from the Pakistan and Bangladesh cricket boards will meet on the sidelines of an ICC meeting in the United Arab Emirates this week after Bangladesh got permission from its government to only play a short Twenty20 series in Pakistan and not the two test matches.
Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hassan said Sunday that his government has given a go ahead for a short tour to Pakistan comprising three Twenty20s. Pakistan was originally scheduled to host Bangladesh for three Twenty20s and two test matches in January-February.
The PCB had proposed to Bangladesh that it could defer the T20 series, but Bangladesh must play two test matches in Pakistan in Karachi and Rawalpindi, which are part of ICC’s World Test Championship.
“Directives from the government is to go for a short tour to Pakistan at this moment,” Hassan had said after a board meeting on Sunday. “We are always with Pakistan’s initiative to revive international cricket there but at this moment it’s not possible to stay there for a long period. I think they should consider our situation.”
PCB chairman Ehsan Mani said last month that Pakistan will no longer host its bilateral test series at a neutral venue after it successfully hosted two test matches against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi and Karachi.
The PCB said Monday that Mani and Hassan will meet in Dubai, after which further updates will be provided.
“The Dubai meeting is a continuation of the discussion process, which the PCB has followed to reach a consensus with the BCB on its national men’s cricket team’s tour itinerary,” PCB said in a statement.
Bangladesh’s junior and women’s cricket teams toured Pakistan last year, but its national men’s team has not played an international match in Pakistan since the 2007-08 season.
Pakistan and Bangladesh cricket bosses set to meet in Dubai
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Pakistan and Bangladesh cricket bosses set to meet in Dubai
- Bangladesh will play three Twenty20 internationals in Pakistan later this month
- Pakistan wants Bangladesh to play two test matches in Pakistan
Pakistani legislator says tax authority open to reviewing high smartphone import levies
- Current tax regime adds substantial cost to imported phones, making devices hard to afford
- Calls for reform have grown in recent months alongside the wider debate on digital inclusion
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan may be open to lowering the high import taxes charged on smartphones, a move that could reduce device prices for millions of users, after a legislator campaigning for reform said on Tuesday the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) would not oppose a reduction if the ministry of finance’s Tax Policy Office recommended one.
Imported phones in Pakistan are subject to heavy duties, sales tax and registration fees that can add hundreds of dollars to the final price, with high-end devices often costing significantly more than their retail value abroad. The government has long argued the levy is designed to regulate imports and curb grey-market phones, but critics say the policy restricts digital access, education and e-commerce for ordinary citizens.
Member of Parliament Kasim Gilani has been publicly challenging the tax regime for weeks.
“Chairman FBR has stated that if the Tax Policy Office of the Finance Ministry recommends a reduction in PTA tax, FBR will have no objection to rationalizing the tax percentage. A major development for smartphone users across Pakistan,” Gilani posted on X.
https://x.com/KasimGillani/status/1998356129735426552?s=20
The government, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and FBR have not yet issued a public confirmation of Gilani’s X post.
The so-called PTA tax, widely referred to by consumers using the name of the national telecom regulator, is in practice a series of federal charges collected on imported devices, particularly those brought into Pakistan from abroad or by returning expatriates. Registration fees for users who activate foreign-purchased phones locally can also significantly raise costs.
Calls for reform have grown in recent months alongside the wider debate on digital inclusion. Pakistan’s population is overwhelmingly young, with over 60 percent under the age of 30, and smartphones are now central to banking, online education and gig-economy work. Reducing the levy could expand access to Internet-enabled devices, but it could also reduce revenue unless phased or redesigned.
No formal reduction has been announced yet, and any change would require approval from the ministry of finance and relevant tax bodies. However, Gilani’s statement suggests a potential shift if policymakers conclude that lower duties could boost adoption, compliance and long-term digital growth.
