KARACHI: The import of mobile phones has declined by 22.15 percent in February 2019 following imposition of mandatory registration with regulatory authority, said Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Saturday.
The import of cellular phones reduced to $54.32 million in February 2019 when compared with $69.78 million in the same month of the last year.
It is pertinent to mention here that cell phone registered with Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) will be activated in the country.
This mandatory requirement has stopped influx of all unregistered phones into the country and resulted in saving precious foreign exchange.
The overall imports of cell phones during July – February 2018/2019 also showing decline of 9.11 percent to $478.13 million as compared with $526.03 million in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.
Industry experts said that the rupee depreciation had discouraged the imports.
They also said that in the latest mini-budget the measures taken by the government would further discourage import of luxury cell phones.
The government revised upward the regime of duty and taxes for import of mobile phones into the country.
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It is good for saving foreign exchange.but it was rather more better if foreign tours of ministers including PM curtailed.