10% GST Imposed on FATA, PATA Business Goods

Islamabad, August 13, 2025, 04:45 PM PKT — Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani has delivered a bold declaration to the National Assembly on Tuesday, unveiling a 10 percent General Sales Tax (GST) on business products from former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (PATA) to curb the rampant misuse of tax concessions, as reported, responding to a Calling Attention Notice by MNAs Naeema Kishwer Khan, Aliya Kamran, Misbahuddin, and Shahida Begum. The decision, backed by the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other stakeholders, targets widespread exploitation of prior tax reliefs in these regions.

Kayani emphasized that FATA and PATA residents retain income tax exemptions on their businesses, with the GST aimed at ensuring fair and transparent taxation. Web context on tax reforms shows past loopholes, while posts found on X reflect mixed reactions—some support equity, others fear burden. Critically, the narrative of “tax fairness” may mask implementation struggles—web data hints at enforcement gaps, and X sentiment suggests distrust in effective monitoring, pointing to potential challenges.