ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has spent Rs217 billion to import mobile phones during first seven months (July – December) 2021/2022, according to data release by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
The import of mobile phones grew by 17.25 per cent when compared with Rs185 billion in the first seven months of the fiscal year 2020/2021.
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The growth in the import of mobile phones may be attributed to depreciation in rupee value against the dollar.
The rupee weakened by Rs17.85 or 11.33 per cent to the dollar when compared Rs157.54 on June 30, 2021 with Rs175.39 as on February 17, 2022.
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The local currency recorded all-time low of Rs178.24 to the dollar on December 29, 2021.
In dollar term, the import of cellphones recorded a growth of 12 per cent to $1.27 billion during first seven months of the current fiscal year as compared with $1.13 billion in the corresponding months of the last fiscal year.
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However, the import of mobile phones recorded a decline of 8.68 per cent to $179.77 million in the month of January 2022 when compared with $197 million in the same month of the last year.
The decline may be attributed to production of mobile phones locally.
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