The general public / users of Telecom Services are advised to note the following:

Federal Excise Duty (FED) and Withholding Tax on Telecom Services

With effect from July 1, 2009, the GST/FED on telecommunication services has been reduced from 21% to 19.5%. With effect from March 16, 2011, withholding Tax (WHT) rate has been increased to 11.5%. The withholding tax is levied in addition to FED. Total compounded tax on telecommunication services will be 33.24%.

Helpline Charges

The cellular mobile operators are levying following charges for connecting to customer service representatives through helpline (excluding taxes).

* with effect from 20-05-2011

Ufone, Mobilink Telenor, Warid and Zong Recharge Service Charges on Prepaid Accounts

Ufone, Mobilink, Telenor, Warid and Zong charge 5% service charges on the face value of all recharges (through top-up / Jazz load/ easy load/ money load and scratch cards).

Telenor Smart Share, Zong Yaari Share

Telenor Smart Share and Zong Yaari Share have a “transaction fee of 4%” on the value of amount transferred.

Ufone U Share, Warid Balance Share

For transfer of amount up to Rs.50, Rs.2.5 plus tax is charged as transaction fee. For transfer above Rs.50, 5% of the amount + tax will be charged.

Mobilink Postpaid Indigo Packages

Free minutes offered by Indigo include "Airtime Charges" only and do not include interconnect charges for calls to fixed-line or other cellular mobile networks. The existing interconnect charges Rs. 0.75/min. However, on i-unlimited packages, no interconnect charges apply for other operators calls during free minutes.

PTCL Voice Messaging Service (VMS)

PTCL is charging local call charges of Rs. 1.00 per 1 minute (excluding taxes) when a call is diverted to VMS or a caller listen to greeting message / prompt tone. For further details, please visit PTCL’s website for further details: http://www.ptcl.com.pk/contentb.php?NID=133

Hoax Calls and Falsified / Unsolicited SMS(s)

Be aware of hoax calls and falsified / unsolicited SMS(s) that are being called / sent to subscribers to buy scratch cards and notify scratch number to calling party for prizes of immense value. You are requested to be mindful of receiving hoax / unsolicited calls and SMS(s) notifying that you have won a prize of immense value. In order to retrieve the prize, you have to inform the calling party the hidden numbers on the prepaid scratch cards. As a result, you will be deprived of the value of the Scratch Card.

Prepaid Calling Card Service

Users are advised to ask the terms and conditions (including daily deduction charges, if applicable) from the helpline(s) of prepaid calling cards / operators prior to purchasing / using a card.

International Calls

The tariffs for international calls made to fixed-line or cellular mobile networks can vary (even for the same country).

Wateen WiMAX Broadband

The charges for Wateen WiMax Broadband connection (for 1-MB) are Rs.888 per month (exclusive of taxes) against the advertised tariff of Rs.699. The above tariff of Rs.888 per month includes mandatory charges for CPE and telephony line rent of Rs.99 and Rs.90 respectively. Monthly CPE rental charges are not applicable in case of buy option.