Under the Telecom Act and applicable regulations, they are obliged to provide uninterrupted services to their customers. Letter from Mobile Phone Companies to Ministry of Information Technology
After the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), mobile phone service providers have also apologized for blocking mobile phone SIMs and the decision of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to block the SIMs of non-filers. Joint concerns have been sent to the Ministry of Information Technology, in which it has been said that this decision was taken in haste and it will have negative effects on the telecom users.
A letter was sent to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) regarding the FBR's order under the Income Tax General Order (ITGO) issued on April 29 regarding failure to file returns in the tax year 2023. It was asked to block the SIMs of 5 lakh 6 thousand 671 people.
The letter states that mobile operators (CMOs) are obliged to provide uninterrupted services to their customers except in the circumstances specified in the Telecom Act and applicable regulations. The letter states that implementing the Income Tax General Order with undue haste will have an adverse impact on consumers and will seriously affect the ability of consumers to access essential services. will have.
According to the letter, the consumer protection aspect is important, the consumer protection regulations mandate operators that suspension of service is subject to prior notification of such intentions and prompt notice due to statutory defects in the Income Tax General Order. Execution is also not possible. The CMOs have advised that the accused should be directly banned and punished without having a negative impact on the telecom industry.
The letter further states that if the telecom operators comply with the ITGO, the affected persons can file a legal action against the cellular mobile operators for special expenses incurred by the affected person due to SIM card blocking and Can also try to recover damages, this is unfair, unreasonable and unacceptable to CMOs.
The letter said telecom companies are one of the largest contributors to revenue collection in the country and by amending the law to prevent adverse consequences or claims by consumers before implementing such orders. Some safeguards or compensation must be given to CMOs. The telecom industry has also said that blocking a large number of SIMs would be technically problematic and that CMOs should, if required by law, provide SIMs to such users. Before blocking by S, it will be necessary to warn several times because they are obliged to provide their users with prior legal notice with valid reasons which is absent in this case.
The letter states that telecom companies will have to develop internal processes and systems that require adequate time and resources, so immediate compliance with such an Income Tax General Order is difficult. The telecom industry has also suggested that Every individual is entitled to fair and equal treatment with due process of law, therefore persons affected by the Income Tax General Order should be formally informed through a wide media campaign and served with show cause notices, so that They can present their case in tribunal or court.