STAFF REPORT LHR: The trend of importing mobile phone and the related products is still on the high in Pakistan as over Rs15.77 billion were spent during the period July-Sept 2012-13, showing an increase of Rs1.59 billion as compared to the corresponding period of last year.
“The overall telecom sector imports touched the figure of Rs34 billion in the past three months, up by Rs8 billion as compared to the import of last years same three months,” reveal the fresh figures released by the Federal Bureau of Statistics.
The import of mobile phone witnessed the increase of 50.58 per cent during July-August 2011-12 over the same period of last year. The country imported the mobile phones worth $105.31 million during the period under review while the commodity worth $69.93 million imported during the same period of last year.
According to experts, this increase has happened due to the growth in subscriber base of Pakistan which has witnessed above 46 per cent growth during last few years. At the world level only Thailand, Belarus and Serbia have higher telecom growths than Pakistan.
Mobile phone imports during July 2012 were recorded at $52.661 million against the imports of $49.261 million during July 2011, the PBS data revealed.