Pakistanis spending on online apps reached new heights in FY2024–25. The users have spent more than Rs. 317 billion on different platforms. This shows the fast growth of digital adoption and international services in the country. This is a huge figure that shows how the country is quickly becoming digitalized and dependent on international technology services.
FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood disclosed the figures. Pakistani users made over 42 million transactions on Meta, Google, Apple, and others.
Meta, Apple and Online Shopping are Leading the pack
Apple/iTunes had the highest transaction volume of more than 5.1 million purchases amounting to almost Rs. 6 billion. Meta (Facebook) registered Rs. 12.3 billion user spending, and Google registered Rs. 5.94 billion user spending in 2.3 million transactions. The total amount spent by Netflix users was Rs. 2.79 billion and they made 3.37 million payments.
Online shopping industry also boomed. AliExpress fulfilled almost a million orders with a total value of Rs. 4.9 billion, and Temu processed 376,000 purchases with a total value of Rs. 1.8 billion.
Amazingly, the Other category, which encompasses smaller, less popular platforms, led all with Rs. 281.4 billion in 28.6 million transactions, indicating the extent to which digital services have become popular.
Digital Tax Legislation by Government
To control this growing online activity, the government has come up with the Digital Presence Proceeds Levy Act, 2025. This new legislation imposes a 5 percent tax on any payments to foreign digital service providers. Payment systems and Banks will automatically collect this tax during transactions.
The Standing Committee also considered the related amendments to financial regulations and proposed to pass the bill with slight amendments.
This is a critical turning point in the regulation and monetization of digital consumption in Pakistan, which is a sign of the country becoming a digitally active economy.
