KARACHI: Desktop computer sales in Pakistan surged by 90 percent during the second quarter of 2025 (April-June) compared with the same period last year, marking one of the sharpest rises in the country’s IT hardware segment, according to a recent report by International Data Corporation (IDC). The strong growth was largely attributed to rising demand from education institutions, corporate buyers, and government organizations, while local brand Viper emerged as the market leader with the highest share.
The IDC report revealed that Viper maintained 39.6 percent share in overall desktop computer sales, positioning itself ahead of global players. Lenovo followed with 18 percent, HP at 17.8 percent, and Dell Technologies at 16 percent, while other brands including Asus, Apple, and Microsoft collectively accounted for 8.3 percent. The report further noted that the education sector represented the single largest buyer with 19.8 percent share, reflecting increased adoption of digital learning tools and lab equipment across schools, colleges, and universities. Large corporations, including multinational and domestic firms, secured the second-largest share with 19.1 percent, while medium-sized businesses and government purchases stood at 15.9 percent and 14.9 percent, respectively. Very large businesses, particularly banks, contributed 11.4 percent of the total purchases in the quarter.
Alongside new and upgraded models of desktops introduced by multiple brands, a sizable portion of Pakistan’s market also consisted of used and refurbished computers, showing that affordability continues to shape purchase decisions. Commenting on the findings, Muhammad Umair Nizam, Senior Vice Chairman of PASHA, said the surge in desktop sales across education, government, and commercial sectors reflected a positive trend in the country’s digital transformation efforts. He stressed that computers remain a fundamental element of IT infrastructure and called for wider integration of computer education and usage across all segments of society in line with evolving requirements.
Khushnood Aftab, Chairman of Viper Group, also highlighted the significance of promoting local computer assembly. He emphasized that government should introduce incentives for local assembly of desktops and laptops, similar to the policies adopted for mobile phone manufacturing, in order to strengthen made-in-Pakistan hardware brands. Aftab added that local systems remain more affordable compared with foreign alternatives, making them attractive to institutions and businesses managing costs. He noted that supporting local assembly could create skilled employment opportunities for youth while also opening doors for future exports of Pakistan-made desktops to regional markets.
While Pakistan’s software exports have shown significant growth, the hardware segment continues to lag behind. Data released by State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) indicated that the country earned only $7.5 million from hardware consultancy services during fiscal year 2024-25, compared to $6.8 million in 2023-24, reflecting a 9.9 percent increase but still a negligible contribution to the overall $3.8 billion in IT exports. By contrast, software consultancy services brought in over $1.1 billion in the same period, underscoring the gap between the development of software and hardware industries. Experts believe that boosting local assembly and manufacturing could gradually bridge this gap, improve self-reliance, and diversify the country’s IT export portfolio.
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