TV, radio sales surge due to war
LAHORE- The demand for TV and Radio sets has registered a sudden increase in the electronics markets right after the US attack on Iraq, informed President of Lahore Electronics & Electrical Importers Association (LEEIA).
“The markets have witnessed a raise of 10 to 15 per cent in the inquiries for middle size TV sets and radios,” he said and added this shows, the majority of the buyers belong to the middle and lower middle class.
He also pointed out chat the electronics markets got a sudden shoot in sale during the recently finished Cricket World Cup, when not only the middle class but upper middle class consumer also approach to the markets for better choice to enjoy the cricket matches.
There are about 10 local TV sets assemblers, who import Components and assemble it locally. According to the Commerce Ministry figures, the local assemblers produced as many as 650,000 TV sets during last year which shows that TV sets industry is grooming in the country.
These assemblers/manufacturers have also been supported by the financial, institutions besides the multinational electronics companies by offering consumer financing to poor strata of the society.
Muhammad Usman told that number of importers has increased with high influx of Chinese electronics products in the country. Almost 10 to 15 new importers have jumped into the field during the last one and a half, who are importing Chinese electronics items in the country.
He also pointed out the black sheep of the market who were importing partial parts of TV sets like body and other components from abroad and add local substandard monitor tubes to produce low quality TV sets in the country. Such elements were earning bad name for the business, he said.
He pointed out that a debate has started in the country regarding high influx of Chinese products causing a great damage to local shoe and plastic industries, President LEEIA said the argument could be true in case if shoe and plastic industries but not for the TV industry, as there was not a single manufacturing unit of TV sets around the country.
“All units established in Pakistan are simply assembling TV sets by importing components from Far East, therefore, one can not say that import of electronic goods has damaged the local industry,” he said, adding: “Rather, it has added revenues to the government kitty.”
Source: The Nation
Date:3/27/2003
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