Blog

The Frequency Allocation Board (FAB) has taken major steps toward Pakistan’s Next-Generation Mobile Services (NGMS) and 5G auction by freeing up crucial spectrum bands for commercial use.

According to reports, officials told Parliament that FAB worked with the defense forces to release portions of the valuable 700 MHz band and the high-capacity 2300 MHz band. The Board also secured 285 MHz in the globally adopted 3500 MHz mid-band through re-farming of WLL services.

To improve spectrum quality, FAB conducted nationwide monitoring surveys that detected dozens of illegal links. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has shut those down. FAB also carried out cross-border spectrum surveys and opened talks with India, Afghanistan, Iran, Oman, and the UAE to curb spillover and align frequencies for smoother 5G rollouts.

The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT), FAB, and PTA informed lawmakers that FAB’s 50th meeting approved multiple frequency bands for the upcoming 5G auction. These include 700 MHz (2×15 MHz), 1800 MHz (2×3.6 MHz), 2100 MHz (2×20 MHz), 2300 MHz (50 MHz), 2600 MHz (194 MHz), 3500 MHz (285 MHz), 24 GHz (3.082 GHz), and 39 GHz (4 GHz).

In total, FAB cleared 606 MHz of spectrum for the auction. However, 161.6 MHz remains locked in litigation, including 140 MHz in the 2600 MHz band, which global operators regard as the prime band for 4G and 5G. Legal disputes also continue in the 2100 MHz and 1800 MHz bands, creating hurdles for release and slowing operator participation.

The written reply added that the Advisory Committee on spectrum auction is reviewing two key challenges: finalizing the PTCL–Telenor merger and resolving the litigation in the 2600 MHz band. The committee has urged a swift resolution in the national interest to clear the way for Pakistan’s 5G launch.

Salaried individuals paid Rs85 billion in income tax during the first two months of the ongoing fiscal year 2025-26 – 21% more than the Rs70 billion collected during the same period last year, data from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has shown.

According to reports, provisional figures from the tax watchdog revealed that non-corporate employees paid Rs41.5 billion, registering a 26% increase from last year, whereas corporate sector employees contributed Rs20 billion, which is 26% higher.

Employees of provincial governments paid Rs10.5 billion – a 6% increase – and federal employees contributed Rs7.6 billion, up by 8%.

The government’s new tax on wealthy pensioners, introduced in this year’s budget for pensions exceeding Rs10 million annually, yielded only Rs180 million over two months, suggesting annual collections may reach just over Rs1 billion.

Earlier, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb acknowledged that tax relief for the salaried class remained limited due to the government’s constrained fiscal space. The increase comes on top of last year’s already elevated base, when contributions rose by more than 50% because of higher income tax rates.

While the salaried class continues to see rising tax contributions, collection from traders remains limited. Several enforcement measures, including a ban on economic transactions by ineligible persons, were diluted or reversed. 

Parliamentary committees are scrutinising the unusually high pay packages of Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) officials. The Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has already flagged serious concerns over a steep salary hike for SECP commissioners and the chairman, which was endorsed by the regulator’s board on management’s recommendation.

The real estate sector also faced higher taxes, with increased rates for non-filers and a new category for late filers. Withholding tax collections on plot sales rose 92% to Rs28 billion, while collections on plot purchases fell 12% to less than Rs13 billion.