Pakistan’s mobile phone imports have seen a sharp rise in the first five months of the current fiscal year, crossing Rs 229 billion and drawing strong public attention. According to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, mobile phone imports increased by 40.5 percent to 801.1 million dollars during July to November of FY2025–26. In the same period last year, imports stood at 570.2 million dollars.
November 2025 alone showed steady growth. Imports rose 4.8 percent compared to November last year and increased 8.3 percent from October. The rising demand reflects strong consumer interest in smartphones, driven by digital payments, online work, and social media use across the country.
At the same time, local mobile phone production showed mixed trends. In November, local assembly increased by 8 percent and reached 2.49 million units. However, cumulative production for 2025 declined by 3 percent to 27.6 million units compared to last year. Smartphones accounted for 53 percent of locally assembled phones, showing a clear shift away from basic handsets.
Among local brands, Infinix led production with 3.47 million units, followed by VGO Tel and Vivo. These companies continue to play a key role in Pakistan’s mobile market by offering budget friendly devices.
To support the sector, the government has finalized a draft Mobile and Electronic Device Manufacturing Policy for 2026–33. The policy aims to encourage local manufacturing, reduce imports, and create jobs.
The scale of mobile phone imports has even surpassed the estimated selling price of Pakistan International Airlines, highlighting how central smartphones have become to Pakistan’s economy and daily life.
