Pakistan’s mobile phone imports surged to $801.139 million during the first five months of fiscal year 2026, marking a significant increase of over 40 percent compared to the same period last year, according to official data. From July to November FY26, mobile phone imports rose from $570.184 million in the corresponding period last year to $801.139 million. In rupee terms, the value of imports increased to Rs. 226.133 billion, up from Rs. 158.518 billion, reflecting growth of 42.65 percent. This surge highlights rising demand for mobile devices in Pakistan despite a previously declining trend in the sector.
On a month-on-month basis, mobile phone imports recorded an increase of 8.30 percent in November 2025, reaching $156.565 million, compared to $144.563 million in October 2025. However, year-on-year figures for November show a slight decline of 4.81 percent compared to $149.378 million in November 2024. This indicates a short-term stabilization after fluctuating imports in recent months. The previous fiscal year saw a decline in overall mobile imports, with Pakistan importing devices worth $1.494 billion in FY25, down 21.31 percent from $1.898 billion in FY24. In rupee terms, imports fell to Rs. 417.351 billion in FY25 from Rs. 535.690 billion the previous year, a decrease of 22.09 percent. Telecom imports overall also declined during FY25, totaling $2.099 billion and showing negative growth of 11.30 percent compared to FY24.
Despite the rise in imports during FY26, local mobile phone manufacturing and assembling have continued to show strong performance, supporting domestic production capacity and reducing reliance on imported devices. During the first ten months of calendar year 2025, local plants manufactured or assembled 25.11 million mobile handsets, while only 1.7 million devices were imported commercially. In October 2025 alone, local production accounted for 2.33 million mobile phones compared to just 0.2 million imported units. This trend underscores a growing preference for homegrown production and reflects investments in Pakistan’s mobile manufacturing sector.
The locally produced handsets include 13.2 million smartphones and 11.9 million 2G phones. According to Pakistan Telecommunication Authority data, approximately 70 percent of mobile devices currently active on Pakistani networks are smartphones, while the remaining 30 percent are 2G phones. Analysts suggest that the combined effect of rising imports and expanding local manufacturing reflects an overall growth in the mobile device market, catering to both urban and rural consumer segments. The growth in local assembling also aligns with government efforts to support domestic electronics production, create jobs, and enhance the country’s technological ecosystem.
This combination of increasing imports and strong local manufacturing highlights a dynamic period for Pakistan’s mobile industry. With continued growth expected in both segments, industry stakeholders are closely monitoring trends in consumer demand, production capacity, and policy developments that may further shape the telecommunications landscape. The rising figures indicate a robust market that balances imported technologies with domestic capabilities, offering consumers a wide range of options while supporting national manufacturing goals.
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