ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court’s order of removing service/maintenance charges on pre-paid mobile scratch cards was being implemented from Monday.

In its order, the Supreme Court stated that telecom companies had stopped collecting/recovering their service/maintenance charges and will also not do so in the future in case the taxes are re-imposed.

Users will now receive Rs88.9 on Rs100 mobile scratch card compared with Rs76.94 previously.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) officials have informed Geo News that service/maintenance charges amounting to Rs12.9 will no longer applicable on users. Officials added that there is a 12.5% withholding and 19.5% sales tax on the scratch cards.

Last year, then Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Saqib Nisar had taken suo motu notice and ordered suspension in deduction of taxes prepaid on mobile phone scratch cards

In April, the Supreme Court restored taxes on mobile scratch cards.