KARACHI: Pakistanis have spent Rs18.2 billion for import of mobile phones in March 2020 despite the reality of business halt after lockdown to contain coronavirus.
According to data released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the import of mobile phones was at Rs18.2 billion in March 2020 as compared with Rs16.13 billion worth mobile phones imported in February 2020, which is 12.72 percent higher.
The import is 65 percent is higher in the month of March 2020 when compared with Rs11 billion in the same month of the last year.
Industry sources explained that the rise in import of mobile phones was due to return of many Pakistanis living abroad due to spread of coronavirus.
They said overall import during the month contracted due to several restriction after the outbreak of coronavirus.
The overall import of mobile phone increased by 107.76 percent to Rs153 billion in July – March 2019/2020 as compared with Rs73.64 billion in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.
The unprecedented growth during the period was due to strict enforcement against smuggling of mobile phones. Besides, registration through a platform provided by Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA) also encouraged the use of registered mobile phones in the country.
