Pakistan Bureau Of Statistics have revealed that mobile phone imports in Pakistan have increased by 15.86% in the first eleven months of the fiscal year 2014-15, as compared to the same period last year. In spite of the rising inflation and tax rates, mobile phone imports in Pakistan have continued to rise in the 2014-2015 fiscal year.
As of now, the total mobile phone imports stand at USD 653.808 million while during the same period last year, the imports figure was only USD 564.293 million.
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According to statistics, the mobile phone imports stood at USD 58.033 million in May 2015, as compared to USD 48.072 million in May 2014 and USD 56.194 million in April 2015; thereby, increasing the import figure by 20.72% on a year on year basis and 3.27% on a month on month basis in May 2014 and April 2015 respectively.
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Similarly, the telecom imports figure rose by 10.37%, standing at USD 1.265 billion as of May 2015, as compared to USD 1.146 billion for the same period last year.
Although when compared to telecom imports back in April 2014 and May 2014, the total imports figure had fallen by 28.26% and by 21.23% during May 2015, respectively.
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It remains to be seen how the increased tax rates on the mobile phones affect the imports figure in the coming fiscal year. Predictions are that with the newly imposed tax rates, more and more people will be opting for the grey routes of importing and buying new mobile phones.
