Pakistan’s mobile phone imports have seen a sharp increase during the first seven months of the current fiscal year, showing that consumer demand is strong and the market is picking up. Official numbers show that imports reached $1.139 billion between July and January 2025-26, which is a big jump compared to the same time last year.
This growth comes to more than 31 percent over the $867.7 million imported during July-January of the previous fiscal year. When we look at it in Pakistani rupees, the total value of imports stood at Rs321.1 billion. That is up by over 33 percent from Rs241.3 billion in the same period last year.
The upward trend did not slow down on a month-to-month basis either. January 2026 alone recorded mobile phone imports worth $179.38 million. This shows an increase of 12.6 percent from December 2025 and a rise of 33.6 percent compared to January last year.
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This growth comes after a decline in the previous fiscal year. During FY2024-25, Pakistan imported mobile phones worth $1.494 billion, which was down by 21.3 percent compared to $1.898 billion in FY2023-24. Overall telecom imports also contracted during that period, falling to $2.099 billion from $2.366 billion a year earlier.
Local Manufacturing Continues Strong Performance
While imports have gone up, local mobile phone manufacturing and assembly have also kept up a strong pace. During the calendar year 2025, locally operating plants produced or assembled 30.21 million mobile handsets. That number is much higher compared to only 2.37 million units imported commercially.
This means that for every imported phone, nearly 13 devices were made or assembled right here in Pakistan. In December 2025 alone, 2.61 million handsets rolled out of domestic factories while only 0.33 million units came through imports.
The locally produced handsets included 15.64 million smartphones and 14.57 million 2G phones. This shows that the domestic industry is serving both people who want basic phones and those looking for advanced features.
Smartphone Adoption Rising
Data from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority tells us that smartphones now make up 71 percent of all devices connected to the country’s mobile networks. The remaining 29 percent are 2G handsets. This steady shift toward smarter devices is helping more people use data services, make digital payments, and access online services across the country.
The combination of rising imports and strong local production points to one simple fact. People in Pakistan want more phones and better technology. Industry experts suggest that the import surge might mean there are supply gaps in the local assembly sector. It could also mean that consumers prefer premium international brands that are not yet being manufactured in Pakistan.
With smartphone usage growing and demand staying strong, the balance between imported devices and locally assembled models will continue to shape Pakistan’s mobile phone market in the coming months. For now, both sectors seem to be doing well, giving consumers plenty of choices at different price points.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total value of mobile phone imports during July-January 2025-26?
Pakistan imported mobile phones worth $1.139 billion during this period, which is a 31 percent increase.
How much did mobile imports rise in January 2026 alone?
January 2026 recorded $179.38 million in imports, up 33.6 percent from January 2025.
How many phones were assembled locally in 2025?
Local plants produced or assembled 30.21 million mobile handsets during calendar year 2025.
What percentage of phones in Pakistan are now smartphones?
According to PTA data, smartphones make up 71 percent of devices on the country’s mobile networks.
