The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has announced a new tax policy. It will impose a 15% GST on marriage halls in Islamabad. The same rate applies to hotels, clubs, farmhouses, and related venues. This measure took effect on July 1, 2025. It is part of the updated Islamabad Capital Territory (Tax on Services) Ordinance, 2001. The change aligns with the broader Finance Act 2025.
Wider Range of Services to Pay 15% GST
Under the updated ordinance, the 15% GST on marriage halls in Islamabad will apply to all payments made through cash or non-digital means. However, restaurants and cafés offering fully digital payment options will continue to benefit from a reduced 5% GST rate. Cash transactions at restaurants will now also attract the full 15% GST, aligning them with other service providers.
The FBR clarified that around 60 categories of services are now covered under the updated law. These include hotels, guest houses, motels, marriage lawns, farmhouses, clubs, caterers, and even sectors like advertising, courier services, construction, and professional consultancies.
Businesses falling under these categories must now integrate with the FBR’s digital monitoring system to enable real-time reporting.
Impact of 15% GST on Marriage Halls in Islamabad
FBR officials say the 15% GST on marriage halls in Islamabad will broaden the tax base and encourage a shift from cash to digital transactions.
The incentive for digital payments—retaining the lower 5% GST for compliant restaurants—has been designed to shift consumer habits and increase transparency.
However, industry stakeholders have raised concerns that the new 15% GST on marriage halls in Islamabad could increase event costs. As a result, clients may try to renegotiate existing contracts to avoid higher prices.
Meanwhile, small and medium-sized venue owners worry that sudden tax hikes, without proper support for digital onboarding, could hurt business during an already challenging economic period.
On the other hand, experts believe the new measure could generate significant revenue for the FBR while discouraging undocumented cash transactions. Nevertheless, they stress the need for strong awareness campaigns and better digital infrastructure to help businesses adjust smoothly.
Reactions from the ground:
Industry insiders caution that sudden implementation without adequate digital onboarding will strain small and medium operators. Many report lingering client resistance to digital payment methods and weak digital infrastructure.
FactFile will continue to monitor the impact of the 15% GST on marriage halls in Islamabad and other affected services as implementation progresses under the Finance Act 2025.
