Pakistan’s telecom equipment imports increased by 19.75 percent year on year during July 2026, while mobile phone imports declined by 5.54 percent, according to data from Federal Bureau of Statistics. Telecom equipment imports reached Rs. 65.438 billion in July, compared with Rs. 54.647 billion during the same month last year. The increase of Rs. 10.791 billion indicates higher spending on telecommunications infrastructure at the beginning of fiscal year 2026-27, even as demand for imported mobile handsets moved in the opposite direction.
The increase in telecom equipment imports comes as network operators continue investing in telecommunications infrastructure across Pakistan. Spending on network equipment is also being supported by the expansion of mobile networks and the rollout of next generation mobile services. Compared with June 2026, however, telecom equipment imports recorded a 6.27 percent decline from Rs. 69.818 billion. Despite the month on month reduction, the year on year increase indicates that infrastructure related imports remained significantly higher than the corresponding period of the previous financial year.
Mobile phone imports, meanwhile, declined during July. The value of imported mobile phones stood at Rs. 39.091 billion, compared with Rs. 41.385 billion in July 2025, representing a 5.54 percent year on year decrease. Imports also fell slightly on a monthly basis, declining 0.90 percent from Rs. 39.445 billion recorded in June 2026. The contrasting performance between telecom equipment and mobile phones indicates that import demand is currently shifting toward network infrastructure rather than consumer handsets. This trend comes as operators continue making investments in network capacity and technology while consumers face changing purchasing conditions in the mobile device market.
The broader machinery import category also recorded substantial growth during July 2026. Federal Bureau of Statistics data showed that machinery imports reached Rs. 364.974 billion during the month, compared with Rs. 287.247 billion in July 2025, representing a 27.06 percent increase. The figures indicate increased imports of machinery and technology related equipment across the economy during the opening month of the new fiscal year. Within the telecommunications sector, the higher value of infrastructure imports compared with the previous year points to continued investment in network equipment, while the decline in mobile phone imports reflects comparatively weaker demand for imported handsets. The developments provide an early indication of the changing composition of Pakistan’s technology related imports during fiscal year 2026-27.
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