Pakistan’s mobile phone imports witnessed a significant 29.6% jump, reaching $1.295 billion during the first eight months (July–February) of the current fiscal year 2025–26. This is a substantial increase from the $999.5 million recorded during the same period last year.
In terms of local currency, the import value rose by 31.1%, totaling Rs364.684 billion. This surge comes despite a slight month-on-month dip in February 2026, where imports fell by 13.2% compared to January.
Local Assembly Reaches New Heights
While import figures are rising, Pakistan's domestic manufacturing sector is showing even stronger momentum. Local plants are now significantly outperforming commercial imports in terms of volume:
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January 2026: Local plants assembled 1.69 million handsets, compared to only 0.47 million units imported commercially.
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Full Year 2025: A staggering 30.21 million mobile devices were manufactured or assembled locally throughout the 2025 calendar year.
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Tech Split: Of the locally produced units in early 2026, 0.92 million were smartphones, while 0.77 million were 2G-enabled devices.
Market Trends and Telecom Outlook
The data reflects a clear shift toward high-speed connectivity within the country. According to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the current network composition stands at:
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71% Smartphones
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29% 2G Devices
Interestingly, the broader telecom sector saw a slightly different trend last year. Total telecom imports for the fiscal year 2024–25 stood at $2.099 billion, a decline of 11.3% compared to the previous year. This suggests that while mobile phone demand is rebounding sharply in the current cycle, infrastructure-related imports had previously slowed down.
Key Statistics at a Glance
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Annual Growth (Jul–Feb): +29.59% in USD value.
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Monthly Comparison: February 2026 saw $155.5 million in imports, up nearly 18% from February 2025.
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Historical Context: The current surge marks a recovery from the 2024–25 fiscal year, which saw a 21% decline in mobile imports.
