Mobile phone imports in the country have registered over 20 percent increase in month of January this year as compared to same period of last year.
Statistics released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Tuesday revealed that mobile imports registered over 20 percent increase in month of January and remained at US $ 70,171 against US $ 58,211 during same period of last year.
Total imports of mobile phone stood at US $ 399,408 in first seven months of current fiscal year 2016-17 against US $ 433,275 during same period of last financial year.
Overall telecom imports saw decline of over 2 percent during July-January 2016-17 as compared to same period of last year.
Total imports were recorded at US$ 780,907 during this period as compared to US$ 799,254 in July-January 2016-17, registering 15.3 percent growth as compared to US $ 104,757 during January 2016, it is US $ 120,787 in January 2017.
Other telecom apparatus import also witnessed growth of over 4 percent during first seven months of current financial year as it stood at US $ 381,499 against US $ 365,979 during same period of last year.
When compared to January 2016, other telecom apparatus imports registered 8 percent growth as it was US $ 46,546 as compared to US $ 50,616 in January 2017.
As per latest GSMA report reducing taxes may lower costs of mobile ownership and drive higher penetration.