KARACHI, June 11: The mobile phones became costlier after the imposition of Rs500 duty per mobile set.

In case the presumptive tax is increased from one per cent to 2 per cent the cell phones would become further costly, Director and Chief Operating Officer United Mobile, Azad Lalani said. The situation would become clear in the next one or two days, he said.He said enhanced import duties always encouraged smuggling.

Mr Lalani said for the first time buyers of cell phones in rural areas, who prefer cheap mobiles of Rs1,200 to Rs1,600, will suffer the most as they would have to pay Rs500 more. Out of total imports, around 50 per cent relates to low-cost cell phones at prices ranging between $30 and $33 per phone.