Mobile phones import witnessed a phenomenal growth of 18.56 percent in the first 10 months (July-April) of 2017-18 as it remained $678.6 million compared to $572.38 million during the same period of 2016-17 (July-April). Mobile phone imports in April 2018, which remained $75.532 million, were increased by 57.56 percent than $47.938 million imports in April 2017, but decreased by 1.96 percent compared to $77.042 million in March 2018, revealed the latest data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
Overall telecom imports saw increase of over 11.91 percent during July-April 2017-2018 compared to the same period of last year. Total imports were recorded at $1.266 billion during this period compared to $1.131 billion in July-April 2016-17. Telecom import remained $134.117 million in April 2018 and registered 30.16 percent growth, as compared to $ 103.038 million during April 2017.
Other telecom apparatus imports also witnessed growth of over 5.11 percent in July-April 2017-18 as they stood at $587.584 million against $559.019 million during the same period of last year. Mobile phone handsets prices will increase, as the federal government has announced a new kind of levy of up to Rs 5000 on importing mobile phone handsets. According to the Finance Bill 2018-19, there shall be levied a mobile handset levy at the rates specified on smart phones of different categories.
The levy will be zero where import value of handset (including duties and taxes) does not exceed Rs 10,000. There will be a levy of Rs 1000 per set where import value of handset (including duties and taxes) exceeds Rs 10,000 but does not exceed Rs 40,000. There will be a levy of Rs 3000 where import value of handset (including duties and taxes) exceeds Rs 40,000 but does not exceed Rs80,000. There will be a levy of Rs 5000 where import value of handset (including duties and taxes) exceeds Rs80,000 per set. According to experts, this may discourage digitization and encourage the smuggling of mobile phones. The move came as an effort to curtail growing imports and generate additional revenue.
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