Pakistan Imported Mobile Phones Worth Rs. 226 Billion in First 5 Months of FY26
Import Statistics Show Strong Growth
According to official data released by Pakistan's regulatory authorities, mobile phone imports during July to November FY26 increased substantially from $570.184 million recorded in the previous year to $801.139 million. In Pakistani rupee terms, the import value climbed from Rs. 158.518 billion to Rs. 226.133 billion, marking a growth rate of over 40 percent.
$801M
Total Imports (Jul-Nov FY26)
42.65%
Year-on-Year Growth
Rs. 226B
Import Value in PKR
Monthly Import Trends
On a month-on-month basis, mobile phone imports demonstrated continued growth in November 2025, reaching $156.565 million compared to $144.563 million in October 2025. This represents an increase of 8.30 percent. However, when compared year-on-year, imports in November 2025 showed a decline of 4.81 percent compared to $149.378 million recorded in November 2024.
Previous Fiscal Year Performance
The current growth comes after a challenging period for mobile phone imports. In the previous fiscal year (FY25), Pakistan imported mobile phones worth $1.494 billion, showing a decline of 21.31 percent from the $1.898 billion imported in FY24. In rupee terms, mobile phone imports in FY25 stood at Rs. 417.351 billion, reflecting a decrease of 22.09 percent compared to Rs. 535.690 billion in FY24.
Overall Telecom Sector Impact
The broader telecom sector also experienced challenges during FY25, with overall telecom imports recorded at $2.099 billion, representing a negative growth of 11.30 percent compared to $2.366 billion in the previous fiscal year.
Local Manufacturing Sector Thrives
While imports have increased, the local mobile manufacturing and assembly sector continues to demonstrate impressive performance. During the first ten months of calendar year 2025, local production facilities manufactured or assembled 25.11 million mobile handsets, compared to only 1.7 million units that were imported commercially.
In October 2025 alone, Pakistani manufacturing plants produced or assembled 2.33 million mobile phones, while commercial imports accounted for only 0.2 million handsets. This significant disparity highlights the success of government initiatives to promote local manufacturing.
Smartphone vs. Feature Phone Production
The locally produced mobile devices consisted of 13.2 million smartphones and 11.9 million 2G feature phones. According to data from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), approximately 70 percent of mobile devices currently active on Pakistan's cellular networks are smartphones, while the remaining 30 percent comprise 2G phones.
Market Analysis
The significant increase in mobile phone imports during FY26 indicates a strong recovery in consumer demand and purchasing power. The balance between local manufacturing and imports suggests a healthy ecosystem where both domestic production capabilities and international trade contribute to meeting market needs.
Industry experts attribute this growth to several factors including improved economic conditions, increased smartphone adoption, the availability of affordable financing options, and the continuous expansion of 4G and upcoming 5G networks across the country.
Future Outlook
The mobile phone sector in Pakistan appears positioned for continued growth, supported by both increasing imports and robust local manufacturing. Government policies promoting local assembly and manufacturing have created a favorable environment for mobile device production, while growing consumer demand ensures steady market expansion.
The telecommunications industry remains optimistic about sustained growth in mobile device demand, particularly as Pakistan continues its digital transformation journey and more citizens gain access to mobile internet services. The ongoing investment in network infrastructure and the anticipated rollout of 5G services are expected to further boost smartphone adoption rates.
With local manufacturing capacity continuously expanding and import regulations becoming more streamlined, Pakistan's mobile phone market is expected to maintain its growth trajectory throughout FY26 and beyond, contributing significantly to the country's digital economy and technology sector development.
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