Laptop prices set to increase

Laptop prices are set to increase, after Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal proposed to impose a 15% value added tax (VAT) on imported laptops in the proposed budget for the next fiscal year 2022-23.

As a result, customers will now have to spend extra money to buy a laptop.

The Finance Minister presented the new budget in the parliament on Thursday.

In his budget speech, he said, "Import of laptops and computers was exempted from value added tax (VAT). As a result, domestic laptop manufacturers have been facing unequal competition."

"That is why I am proposing to impose an added 15% VAT on the import of laptop computers." he added.

Due to the newly imposed VAT, the total tax imposed on imported laptops will now be 31%.