ISLAMABAD: The imports of mobile phone into the country rose by 6.77 percent in first eight months (July-February) of current fiscal year (2015-16) as compared to same period of last year.
The mobile phone imports increased to $497.192 million during the period July-February (2015-16) from $465.649 million during the period July-January (2014-15).
According to latest data released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the imports however fell on year-n-year basis, by 12.63 percent from $73.156 million in February 2015 to $63.915 million in February 2016.
Likewise, on month-on-month basis, the mobile import posted a growth of 9.8 percent as it was recorded at $58.213 million in January 2016.
The overall telecom import during first eight months of current year fell by 3.84 percent from $97.193 million last year to $96.362 million during the period of current fiscal year.
On year-on-year and month-on-month basis the telecom import increased from $115.443 million in February 2015 and $104.761 million in January 2016 to $125.995 million in February 2016, thus showing an increase of 9.14 percent and 20.27 percent respectively.
Meanwhile according to a senior official at Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, the manufacturing and assembling of mobile handset units at a local level is expected to start from April this year in the country.
The manufacturer - Haier which is already operating in the country and has established laptop manufacturing unit in Lahore, however, from April this year it will roll-out smart phones and mobile handset assembling unit.
The move would not only help in reducing the import bill as smartphones are the demand of the day, but will also help bring good investment and create job opportunities for the youth, the official said.
The government had announced tax incentive package for manufacturing of mobile phones in budget 2015-16 and these were income tax exemption for five years, zero percent depreciation allowance for plants, machinery and production line equipment used for manufacturing of mobile phones certified by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in first year.
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