Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD: According to the Economic Survey 2017-2018, Telecom Sector Earns Rs 235bn in the first two Quarters of FY 2017-18. During the first two quarters of the current fiscal year, the telecom operators invested around $322.9 million. Most of this investment was made by the cellular mobile sector amounting to $267.94 million.
Import bill of other apparatus of telecom sector also increased by 12.9pc to $477.5m during this period compared to $422.8m in the corresponding period last year.
The telecom sector contributed Rs78.62 billion to the national exchequer in terms of taxes, regulatory fees, initial and annual licence fees, activation tax, and other charges during July-December period of FY18.
According to the survey, the transport group import bill surged by 46.6pc to $2.905.4bn during July-February period from $1.981bn.
The imports of completely built units of cars and motorcycles increased by 32.2 and 140.5 per cent, respectively.
The report said the significant growth in the imports of auto parts correspond with strong sales of locally assembled vehicles.
According to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, the total cellular subscribers have reached the 149 million mark till March 2018. Among them 53 million are 3G/4G subscribers and 56 million are broadband subscribers in Pakistan.
