Pakistan has decided to waive income tax for the ICC and foreign players participating in the Champions Trophy, with support from the IMF. The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) approved this exemption as part of the ICC’s hosting agreement.
However, local players and PCB officials will still have to pay taxes. While the government provides tax relief to foreign cricketers, salaried professionals are facing demands to repay tax rebates from previous years.
In addition to this, the ECC has extended Pakistan’s LNG deal with Azerbaijan’s SOCAR and approved a Rs6.9 billion grant for various parliamentary projects.
As for the tournament, the UAE will co-host India’s matches, since this is the first major cricket event being held in Pakistan since 1996.
The government made these tax exemptions without going through parliament, citing international agreements as the reason. This decision has sparked debate, as it highlights the contrast between tax policies for foreign organizations and the financial burdens placed on Pakistani professionals.
