Govt starts collecting tax from media industry
ISLAMABAD: The government has imposed tax on media industry under Finance Act 2013 and made Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) responsible for collection of this tax. It is expected that the government would collect Rs350-400 million through this tax in year 2013-14.
According to documents available with ‘The News’, advance tax would be collected from Pakistani TV channels airing foreign dramas, in their original language or translated into Urdu or any other local languages.
Similarly, tax would be collected for issuance or renewal of licences for distribution services and this tax would be adjustable under sub-section (1) of this Act.
Pemra has directed its regional general managers (finance) to collect tax against airing of foreign dramas at the rate of Rs100,000 per episode. According to Pemra Ordinance 2002, cable TV operators, DTVH, distribution service, mobile TV, MMD, lop holder and IPTV fall in the same category. In case of cable TV operator, hotel licence fee is Rs7,500 and Rs1,000 is charged for its renewal.
Licence fee for Basic Category 10 can go up to Rs875,500 and renewal of licence fee up to Rs900,000.
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