ISLAMABAD: Mobile phone imports in the country registered 15 per cent decline in first quarter (July-September) of current financial year as compared to the same period of last year.
Mobile imports registered over 20 percent decline in month of September and remained at $ 53,855 against $ 67,482 during same period last year.
According to data released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), total imports of mobile phone stood at $ 146,562 in first quarter of current fiscal year 2016-17 against $ 172,860 during same period of last financial year.
Overall telecom imports saw decline of over 11 percent during July-September 2016 as compared to same period of last year. Total imports were recorded at $ 277,694 during this period as compared to $ 312,790 in July-September 2015 while registering 13.67 percent decline as compared to $ 119,568 during September 2015 as it is $ 103,224 in September 2016.
Other telecom apparatus import also witnessed decline of over 5 percent during reported first quarter of current financial year as it stood at $131,132 against $139,930 during same period of last year. When compared to the September 2015 other telecom apparatus imports registered 5.22 percent decline as it was $52,086 as compared to $49,360 in September 2016.
According to analysts, telecom sector has become saturated with respect to infrastructure investment and other apparatus, therefore decline in overall telecom import is justifiable.
However, in the next two years, smartphones are expected to cross 55 percent of mobile phone imports. Smartphone adoption in Pakistan is expected to grow due to expanding 3G and 4G networks (currently 3G services are available in more than 200 cities and towns) and more affordable smartphones are available in the market.
