ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunications has recommended to the government to form a regulatory body to regulate the IT companies operating in Pakistan.

The committee in a report submitted to the Senate on Tuesday made a recommendation of imposing tax on IT companies.

The report submitted by Senator Shahi Syed stated that the Ministry of Information Technology, along with all stakeholders, including the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and the Federal Board of Revenue, should make maximum efforts to devise a mechanism for collection of withholding and other related taxes which are collected from cellular companies.

The committee in its report recommended to the government to evolve a strategy for revitalisation of the Telephone Industry of Pakistan (TIP) without any further delay.

While observing inordinate delay in the process of recovery of outstanding amount of Rs800 million from Etisalat against the privatisation of PTCL, it asked the Privatisation Commission to resolve the issue and report back to the committee.

The committee asked the ministry of information technology to take steps to launch new projects in Fata through Universal Service Fund (USF) and complete on priority basis.

Secretary of Information Technology was asked to implement the decision of Supreme Court and committee’s earlier recommendations regarding increase in pensions to all PTCL employees at the earliest.

The ministry should also take steps for resolving the issue of outstanding amount of TIP towards Technological Service Corporation (TSC) and National Radio Telecommunications Corporation (NRTC) on account of their contribution share.

The ministry was asked to take steps to bound PTCL, TIP and NRTC to bear all financial expenses being incurred on schools, colleges and hospitals which have been established on the land allocated to those entities, respectively.

The committee recommended that the ministry in coordination with entities concerned should devise a policy for regularisation of services of contractual employees serving in the TIP schools, colleges and hospitals established in the TIP colony.

The committee further asked the ministry to take steps for resolving the issue of outstanding amount of Rs274 million to TIP towards TSC ad NRTC on account of their contribution towards TIP schools and hospitals.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2016