ISLAMABAD: The import of mobile phones into the country witnessed an increase of 83.17 per cent during the first quarter (Q1) of the current financial year (FY21) as compared to the corresponding period of last year.
Pakistan imported mobile phones worth $492.894 million in July-Sept FY21 as compared to the imports of $269.087 million in July-Sept FY20, according to data issued by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
Meanwhile, on a year-on-year basis, mobile phone imports surged 76.69pc in September 2020, as compared to the same month of last year. Mobile imports were recorded at $186.531 million in Sept 2020, as against $105.568 million in Sept 2019.
Likewise, on month-on-month basis, the imports of mobile phones rose 17.79pc in Sept 2020, as compared to the imports of $158.364 million in August 2020.
It is pertinent to mention that the overall merchandize trade deficit of Pakistan increased by 2.02pc during the first quarter of FY21 as compared to the corresponding period of last year.
The deficit during July-September FY21 was recorded at $5.804 billion as compared to the deficit of $5.689 billion last year.
During the period under review, the country’s exports registered a fall of 0.94pc, from $5.510 billion last year to $5.458 billion during the current year.
On the other hand, the imports decreased by 0.56pc, from $11.199 billion last year to $11.262 billion during the current year.
