Pakistan’s mobile phone imports dropped to $1 billion in the first eight months (July-February) of the ongoing fiscal year 2024-25, marking a 12.89% decline compared to $1.148 billion recorded in the same period last year. This downturn in mobile phone imports reflects shifting market dynamics, evolving consumer demand, and broader economic factors impacting the country’s import trends.
In rupee terms, mobile phone imports amounted to Rs278.366 billion during this period, reflecting a 14.80% decrease from Rs326.732 billion recorded in the corresponding months of 2023-24. The decline follows a sharp rise in mobile phone imports during the previous fiscal year when Pakistan imported $1.898 billion worth of mobile phones, a significant jump from just $570.071 million in 2022-23. This previous surge was attributed to relaxed import restrictions and increased consumer demand after a period of economic uncertainty and currency fluctuations.
On a month-on-month (MoM) basis, mobile phone imports fell by 1.21% in February 2025, reaching $132.620 million compared to $134.243 million in January 2025. Meanwhile, on a year-on-year (YoY) basis, the decline was more pronounced, with imports dropping by 17.57% from $160.890 million recorded in February 2024, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
The decline in mobile phone imports is part of a broader trend seen across Pakistan’s telecom sector. Overall telecom imports during the first eight months of the current fiscal year stood at $1.365 billion, reflecting a 4.76% decrease from $1.434 billion in the same period of the previous year. February 2025 saw a particularly sharp month-on-month decline of 9.66% in telecom imports, which dropped to $175.084 million from $193.815 million in January 2025. On a year-on-year basis, telecom imports fell by 8.43% compared to $191.202 million in February 2024.
The declining trend in mobile phone and telecom imports can be attributed to several factors, including economic challenges, a weaker rupee, high inflation, and changes in import policies. Additionally, an increasing focus on local mobile phone manufacturing and assembly has reduced reliance on imports, with more devices now being produced domestically. The government’s push to boost the local mobile manufacturing industry through incentives and policy support has encouraged brands to assemble devices within Pakistan, contributing to the overall reduction in import volumes.
As Pakistan continues to navigate economic challenges, the trend of declining mobile phone imports may persist in the coming months. However, with a growing digital economy and increasing smartphone penetration, demand for mobile devices remains strong, and shifts in import patterns may be accompanied by a rise in locally manufactured smartphones. The coming months will provide a clearer picture of how the industry adapts to these evolving market dynamics.
