Pakistan's mobile phone imports rise 438%, rice exports boom 76.23%

ISLAMABAD/ KARACHI, May 21: - Pakistan's mobile phone import figures have skyrocketed in the first ten months of the current fiscal year, according to data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
The PBS reports a staggering 438% year-on-year increase in mobile phone and telecom product imports, reaching $57.13 million between July 2023 and April 2024. This surge significantly outpaces import figures from the same period in the previous fiscal year.
On a brighter note, Pakistan's rice exports have experienced a robust 76.23% increase year-on-year during the same ten-month period. The country raked in $3.063 billion from rice exports, marking a significant improvement over last year's figures.
The PBS data also revealed a positive trend in food product exports, with an increase exceeding $2 billion recorded in the current fiscal year so far.
These statistics highlight a contrasting trend in Pakistan's trade. While mobile phone imports are on a steep rise, the country is demonstrating strong growth in its rice exports and overall food product exports. This trend suggests a growing domestic demand for mobile phones while showcasing Pakistan's potential to be a major rice exporter in the global market.