ISLAMABAD: Despite manufacturing of mobile phone sets at local level in the country, a significant increase of 233% has been recorded in the imports of mobile phones during the last financial year 2023-24.
According to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics data, foreign exchange expenditure of 1.899 billion dollars was spent on imports of mobile phones in the fiscal year 2023-24, which is 233 percent more than the fiscal year 2022-23. In the financial year 2022-23, foreign exchange expenditure of 570 million dollars was spent on imports of mobile phones.
According to the report, in June 2024, mobile phone imports spent $279 million in foreign exchange, which is 420% more than in June 2023. Mobile phones worth $96 million were imported in June 2024.
According to the data, mobile phone imports increased by 77% on month-on-month basis in June compared to May. Mobile phone imports spent $158 million in foreign exchange in May, which increased to $279 million in June.
It should be noted that in fiscal year 2024, the volume of total imports of machinery group has been recorded at 8.501 billion dollars, which is 46% more than 5.812 billion dollars in fiscal year 2023.
