Stationery items may face 18% GST from 1 July under Finance Bill 2026

Islamabad: Stationery items are likely to become more expensive from 1 July 2026 as the government considers increasing the sales tax rate from 10 per cent to 18 per cent under the Finance Bill 2026, according to sources.

Sources said that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has called for the withdrawal of the existing concessional 10 per cent sales tax rate on stationery products.

The proposed increase is currently under consideration by the government as part of its fiscal measures for the upcoming financial year.

If approved, the higher tax rate is expected to lead to an increase in the prices of notebooks, registers, pens, pencils and other educational and office supplies.

According to sources, the IMF has also approved the proposal to raise the sales tax on stationery items from 10 per cent to 18 per cent.

The revised tax rate is expected to come into effect from 1 July 2026.