ISLAMABAD, April 24 (APP): Mobile phone imports in Pakistan
increased by 6.25 percent during current financial year 2015-16
(July-March) as compared to same period of previous year.
Total imports of mobile phone stood at US $ 573.282 million
while they were US $ 539.581 million in the same period last year.
According to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the import
bill for mobile phones is likely to increase as smartphone adoption
in Pakistan is expected to grow due to expanding 3G and 4G networks
(currently 3G services are available in more than 200 cities and
towns) as more affordable smartphones are available in market.
As per previous figures, Pakistan spends around US $ 600
million each year on import of mobile phones.
As a policy priority, Ministry of Information Technology is
engaged with international telephone manufacturing companies to
establish local manufacturing/assembling units through Public
Private Partnership or otherwise.
Chinese mobile manufacturers and their Pakistani importers
have shown their interest in establishment of manufacturing/assembling
units in Pakistan.
In order to facilitate local manufacturing, MoIT after
consultation with relevant stakeholders has succeeded in launch of
a special incentive package for local manufacturers of cellular
mobile phones in Pakistan.
These incentives have attracted M/s Haier to set up assembly
line for smartphones in Pakistan.
Telecom imports, on other hands, saw decline of 2.18 percent
during July-March 2015-16 as compared to same period during last
year.