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ISLAMABAD, Jan 06 (APP):The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday reserved the verdict in a case against PEMRA notices to TV channels to deposit 5 percent tax on annual income generated through advertisements.
Justice Saman Rifat Imtiaz heard the applications of eight TV channels, including and Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA). Faisal Siddiqui, Advocate, appeared in the court on behalf of the petitioners.
The lawyer told the court that the PEMRA issued notices to TV channels to deposit an amount of about two billion rupees over 13 years. TV channels were granted licenses years ago but were never required to pay five percent of the annual gross advertising revenue, he said.
He said that a five percent annual revenue on advertising revenue is being demanded on the basis of Schedule B of PEMRA Rules 2009.
He claimed that the PEMRA has no authority to impose tax, adding that the authority collects annual fees separately from TV channels.
After hearing the arguments, the court reserved its decision on the applications of PBA and TV channels
PBA and TV channels had approached the Islamabad High Court in 2022 against PEMRA’s notices.
The court had issued a stay order on PEMRA’s notices to pay five percent tax on annual advertising revenue.