KATHMANDU: Nepal has imported mobile phones worth around Rs 4.5 billion in one month.
While the world is hit hard by the pandemic virus, the import of luxury electronic goods and mobiles compared to medicine is high, according to the Department of Customs.
During the period of July 16 to August 16, 470, 621 mobile sets were cleared through customs.
The department has stated that Rs 4.26 billion has been spent on the purchase of these mobiles. Mobile phones worth Rs 2.41 billion were imported to Nepal in the last year of same period.
This year, the government has collected revenue of Rs 675 million for mobile imports.
According to Suman Dahal, Director General of the Customs Department, the number of mobile phones introduced in the first month of the current fiscal year is unnaturally higher than last year.
“This year’s imports are 77 percent higher than last year’s,” he said.
Medicines worth Rs 121.72 million were imported during the period. Similarly, raw material of medicine worth Rs 307 million has been imported.
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