Mobile phone imports surged 18.3 percent to $857 million in the first five months of the current fiscal year 2021-22, compared to $724 million in the same period the previous fiscal year.
According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), mobile phones worth $212 million were imported in November 2021, representing year-on-year growth of 28 percent and a month-on-month growth of 41.6 percent.
In November, overall telecom imports totaled $286.96 million, up 40% year over year and 37.5 percent month over month.
Earlier, Pakistan’s Ministry of Commerce said in a statement that cellphone import substitution saved the country $410 million in foreign money.
During July-November 2021, the import of completely built units (CBUs) decreased by 73 percent to $179 million as compared to $661 million during the same period of the previous year. “This has saved $410 million in foreign exchange,” said the statement.
Around 85% of Pakistan’s market is for phones that cost less than $200. The Mobile Device Manufacturing Policy, which includes tariff incentives for local cellphone assembly, has resulted in Pakistan manufacturing the majority of phones under $200.
These assemblers import semi-knocked down (SKD) mobile phones, which are subsequently put together in Pakistan. This not only saves foreign cash but also stimulates industrial activity and creates jobs. According to the statement, the achievement of the Mobile Device Manufacturing Policy was demonstrated by the drop in CBU imports while the increase in imports of mobile phone components.
