Pakistan extends IT tax holiday

["Irfan Khan" <khania@super.net.pk>]

Pakistan extends IT tax holiday


By Alvan Yap 
05 February 2001


The Pakistani government is considering doubling the current 5-year 
tax holiday for IT investments. 

ISLAMABAD – To attract more investments in the IT sector, Pakistan 
may move to double the current 5-year tax holiday for software 
companies to 10 years. This is according to Minister for Science and 
Technology Dr Atta-urRehman, who was speaking at the launch of the IT 
Commerce and Network [TCN] Exhibition and Conference. 

Acknowledging the importance of a comprehensive infrastructure, the 
minister also revealed the government’s intention to make Pakistan 
the Export Processing Zone for the IT industry and has offered a 
number of incentives to attract foreign investors in this sector. 

Measures taken included reducing duty on computers and spare parts as 
well as rates on Internet bandwidth rate to $3,000 rupees per 
megabyte per month from $15,000 rupees. 

In addition, several teams from China, France and other countries are also carrying out studies with regard to high-speed Internet access in Pakistan. 

In a related development, it was announced that ITCH Asia 2001, jointly organised by Ministry of Science (Pakistan), Commerce Net Singapore, E-commerce Gateway and US Publishers, will be held in Karachi from 24 to 26 Marc
h. 



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