Pakistan Sees Sharp Decline in Mobile Phone Imports, Local Manufacturing Gains Momentum
Pakistan recorded a significant drop in mobile phone imports during the fiscal year 2024-25, reflecting a strategic shift toward local production. According to official data, mobile phones worth $1.494 billion were imported during the year—a 21.31% decrease compared to $1.898 billion in 2023-24.
In Pakistani Rupees, imports were valued at Rs. 417.351 billion, down 22.09% from Rs. 535.690 billion last year. However, a short-term upward trend was noted in June 2025, when imports rose by 39.60% month-on-month to $139.425 million, up from $99.875 million in May. Despite this, the figure was still significantly lower than June 2024’s $278.574 million, marking a 50% year-on-year drop.
Total telecom imports, including mobile devices and other telecom equipment, fell to $2.099 billion in 2024-25, down 11.30% from $2.366 billion the previous year.
The sharp decline in imports comes as local manufacturing gains strength. Between January and May 2025 alone, Pakistan’s assembly plants produced 12.05 million mobile phones. In contrast, only 0.76 million handsets were imported commercially during the same period.
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For the full calendar year 2024, local manufacturers produced 31.38 million devices, while just 1.71 million phones were imported commercially. This demonstrates the increasing self-reliance of Pakistan’s mobile industry.
Of the 12.05 million handsets produced in the first five months of 2025, 6.53 million were 2G devices, and 5.52 million were smartphones. This indicates a healthy mix of basic and advanced mobile phones being produced domestically.
According to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), 67% of mobile phone users in the country now use smartphones, while the remaining 33% rely on 2G phones. This shift highlights a growing demand for smarter devices, aligning with Pakistan’s push to develop its local tech manufacturing ecosystem.
With imports falling and local production increasing, Pakistan is making notable progress in reducing its reliance on foreign-made phones. This move not only supports domestic employment but also helps conserve valuable foreign exchange reserves, contributing to economic stability.
