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Tag: mobile phones

  • Pakistan pays Rs119.22 billion for import of mobile phones

    Pakistan pays Rs119.22 billion for import of mobile phones

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has paid Rs119.22 billion for import of mobile phones during the first five months (July – November) of 2020/2021 owing to high demand for online financial transactions in the wake of coronavirus.

    According to data released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the import of mobile phones surged by 53 percent to Rs119.22 billion during the first five months of the current fiscal year as compared with Rs78 billion in the corresponding months of the last fiscal year.

    Industry sources said that the import of mobile phones surged due to the coronavirus pandemic and people opted to make financial transactions through an online system.

    Further, they said the implementation of laws making it mandatory that only verified mobiles through Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to be activated for local services has also discouraged informal channels for import of mobile phones.

    They said that the depreciation of Pak Rupee had also an impact on the surge of mobile phone imports.

    The import of mobile phones in terms of dollar grew by 45 percent to $724 million during the first five months of the current fiscal year as compared with $498 million in the same period of the last fiscal year.

  • Pakistan imports mobile phones worth Rs92.8 billion in four months

    Pakistan imports mobile phones worth Rs92.8 billion in four months

    KARACHI: Pakistan has imported mobile phones worth Rs92.8 billion during the first four months of the current fiscal year, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Wednesday.

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  • Import of mobile phones allowed Rs23.15 billion as tax concession

    Import of mobile phones allowed Rs23.15 billion as tax concession

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) issued details of sales tax concessions to the tune of Rs23.15 billion granted on import mobile phones.

    The FBR issued the cost of allowing reduced rate of sales tax on the import of cellular phones during fiscal year 2020.

    FBR sources said that the beneficiaries of sales tax concessions were importer and general public.

    Following table explains head wise cost of sales tax concession on import different type of mobile phones;

    S. No.Value of mobile phonesSales tax concession
    1Cellular mobile phones (not exceeding US$ 30)Rs2,424 million
    2Cellular mobile phones (exceeding US$ 30 but not exceeding US$ 100)Rs 10,032 million
    3Cellular mobile phones (exceeding US$ 100 but not exceeding US$ 200)Rs5,764 million
    4Cellular mobile phones (exceeding US$ 200 but not exceeding US$ 350)Rs 1,239 million
    5Cellular mobile phones (exceeding US$ 350 but not exceeding US$ 500)Rs 56 million
    6Cellular mobile phones (Exceeding US$ 500)Rs 731 million
    7Cellular mobile phones (PTA – DIRBS)Rs2,908 million
  • Mobile phone imports jump up 94 percent in July – September

    Mobile phone imports jump up 94 percent in July – September

    Pakistan’s mobile phone imports witnessed a significant surge of 94 percent during the first quarter (July–September) of the fiscal year 2020/2021, according to figures released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Saturday. The country imported mobile phones worth Rs82 billion in this period, a sharp rise from the Rs42 billion recorded in the same quarter of the previous fiscal year.

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  • Mobile phones worth Rs51.24 billion imported in July – August

    Mobile phones worth Rs51.24 billion imported in July – August

    KARACHI: The country has imported mobile phones worth Rs51.24 billion during first two months of current fiscal year due to rising digital services in the wake of coronavirus pandemic.

    The import of mobile phone grew by 98 percent to Rs51.24 billion during July – August 2020 as compared with Rs25.9 billion in the same period of the last year.

    Industry sources said that demand of mobile phones grew significantly during the lockdown for various purposes including financial services.

    The import of mobile phones was Rs32.45 billion August 2020 as compared with Rs13.47 billion in the same month of the last year, showing 97 percent growth.

    The import of mobile phone in terms of US dollar also registered 87.37 percent increase to $306.38 million during first two months of current fiscal year as compared with $163.52 million in the corresponding months of the last fiscal year.

  • Mobile phones worth Rs24.7 billion imported in July 2020

    Mobile phones worth Rs24.7 billion imported in July 2020

    KARACHI: The country has imported mobile phones worth Rs24.7 billion in the month of July 2020, which is almost double than the import value in the same month of the last year, official data revealed.

    According to data released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Wednesday the import of mobile phone increased by 98 percent as the country imported mobile phone worth Rs12.42 billion in the same month of the last year.

    The import value in US dollar term was $148 million in July 2020 as compared with $78.29 million in the corresponding month of the last year, showing an increase of 89 percent.

    Market sources attributed the rise in import of mobile phones to huge demand during lockdown and after ease in lockdown due to rising financial transactions through mobile phones.

    They also attributed the significant growth in rupee term due to depreciation of local currency. The average exchange rate in July 2020 was at Rs166.76 to the dollar as compared with Rs158.82 to the dollar in July 2019.

    Further, the market sources said that the government has provided relief through duty and taxes on import of mobile phones to promote financial inclusion.

  • Pakistan spends Rs217 billion on import of mobile phones in FY20

    Pakistan spends Rs217 billion on import of mobile phones in FY20

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has spent Rs217 billion on import of mobile phones during fiscal year 2019/2020 amid slow economy and outbreak of coronavirus pandemic.

    The import of mobile phones was Rs217 billion during fiscal year 2019/2020 as compared with Rs102.75 billion in the preceding fiscal year, showing 81 percent growth, according to data released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

    Market sources said that reduction in duty and taxes and restriction of registration with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has increased the import of mobile phones through legal channels.

    The import of mobile phones in terms of US Dollars also increased to $1.4 billion during the fiscal year under review as compared with $755.55 million in the preceding fiscal year.

    Despite imposition of lockdown in the country to prevent coronavirus, the country imported mobile phones worth Rs38.2 billion in June 2020, which is 115 percent higher when compared with Rs17.78 billion in May 2020.

    The market sources said that due to lockdown the importance of digital economy had increased. They said that financial transactions were being done through mobile phones, which were the easiest way.

  • Pakistan spends Rs179 billion for mobile phone import

    Pakistan spends Rs179 billion for mobile phone import

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has spent over Rs179 billion for import of mobile phones during July – May 2019/2020, which is 90 percent higher than the same period of the last fiscal year.

    According to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the country imported mobile phones worth Rs179 billion during first eleven months of the current fiscal year, which was Rs93.78 billion in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.

    Market sources said that reduction in duty and taxes and restriction of registration with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has increased the import of mobile phones through legal channels.

    The import of mobile phones in terms of US Dollars also increased to $1.14 billion during the period under review as compared with $698 million in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.

    Despite imposition of lockdown in the country to prevent coronavirus, the country imported mobile phones worth Rs17.78 billion in May 2020, which is 127 percent higher when compared with Rs7.83 billion in April 2020.

    The market sources said that due to lockdown the importance of digital economy had increased. They said that financial transactions were being done through mobile phones, which were the easiest way.

  • Pakistan imports mobile phones worth Rs18.2 billion in March

    Pakistan imports mobile phones worth Rs18.2 billion in March

    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.

  • Tax collection from phone services jumps up 630 percent

    Tax collection from phone services jumps up 630 percent

    ISLAMABAD: The collection of withholding tax from phone subscribers registered a phenomenal increase of 630 percent to Rs27 billion during first half of the current fiscal year, according to data made available to PkRevenue.com

    The sources in Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) told that the restoration of withholding tax on phone usage by the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SBP) helped the tax authorities to generate substantial amount during the period under review.

    The data revealed that the FBR collected withholding tax to the tune of Rs27 billion during first six months (July – December) 2019/2020 as compared with Rs3.7 billion collection in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.

    The FBR collects withholding tax on telephone usage under Section 236 of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 from telephone subscribers and internet.

    The tax rate is zero percent on monthly bill up to Rs1,000. However the bill exceeding Rs1,000 shall liable to tax rate at 10 percent.

    In case subscriber of internet, mobile telephone and pre-paid internet or telephone card the tax rate shall be 12.5 percent of the amount of bill or sales price of internet pre-paid card or prepaid telephone card or sale of units through any electronic medium or whatever form.

    The phone companies preparing bills or selling prepaid cards are responsible to collect withholding tax on behalf of the FBR from telephone subscribers, internet subscribers, purchaser of internet prepaid cards.

    The withholding tax collected from phone usage is adjustable against the taxpayers’ liability.

    The FBR incurred a loss of Rs55 billion in 2018/2019 due to suspension of withholding tax on telecommunication services by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.