Despite government efforts, there has reportedly been a notable increase in pricing due to the IMF’s insistence on keeping the 10% sales tax on stationery items.
Per sources, the public, businesses, and students have all been impacted by the 15% increase in stationery prices brought on by the tax increase.
Pens for kids, pencil boxes, punching machines, calculators, sharpeners, erasers, and markers are just a few of the stationery products that have been impacted by the tariff rise. According to IMF, there will be no change made to the sales tax on these products.
Pakistan buys stationery products from China and Hong Kong, among other nations. According to sources, the tax rise in Pakistan will impact around 850 importers.
In the Finance Bill of Budget 2024–2025, which has since been revised, the federal government levied a 10 percent general sales tax (GST) on all desk supplies.
The government has implemented a 10 percent general sales tax (GST) on all commodities and has terminated the tax exemption on stationery items, as per the Finance Bill.
All brands of pencils, inks, erasers, sharpeners, ballpoint pens, and markers are subject to a 10 percent sales tax liability. Should the Finance Bill pass the lower house of Parliament, the tax would be imposed on all stationery items starting on July 1 (FY2024–25).
