In a major decision, Pakistan’s Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), chaired by Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, has approved income tax exemptions for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The meeting, held in Islamabad, reviewed the Revenue Division's summary and granted tax relief to the International Cricket Council (ICC) under the tournament's hosting agreement.
ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Tax Exemptions
As per the standardized hosting rights agreement between Pakistan and ICC, no income tax or deductions will apply to ICC revenues, subsidiaries, associates, officials, and non-resident delegates. However, Pakistani residents, including the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), will still be liable for income tax on earnings generated from the cricket tournament.
Importantly, there will be no exemptions on Sales Tax and Federal Excise Duty (FED). The tax relief does not pose a revenue loss for Pakistan, as it was a mandatory condition for securing the tournament’s hosting rights.
Other Key Decisions by ECC
The ECC meeting also reviewed a proposal from the Ministry of National Food Security & Research regarding lifting the ban on sheep and goat exports to Kuwait but deferred the decision for further evaluation.
Additionally, a Technical Supplementary Grant (TSG) of Rs. 6.859 billion was approved for the Ministry of Energy (Power Division) to support development projects for the financial year 2024-25.
The committee also extended the LNG Framework Agreement between Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) and SOCAR Trading for another three years. This agreement, originally signed in 2023, allows PLL to procure one LNG cargo per month on a need basis, ensuring flexible and cost-effective LNG procurement without financial risks.
Meeting Attendees
The high-level meeting was attended by key officials, including Minister for Petroleum Musadik Masood Malik, Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain, Chairman FBR, Chairman SECP, federal secretaries, and senior officials from various ministries and divisions.
With the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 set to take place in Pakistan, the government's tax exemptions reinforce its commitment to successfully hosting one of cricket's biggest international tournaments.
