Pakistan’s imports of mobile phones jumped over 109 percent in the first two months of the current fiscal year, from July to August 2025. This growth shows strong demand, even as the government promotes local assembly.
Official figures reveal imports reached $300.509 million for that period. That’s up from $143.703 million in the same months last year. In rupees, the value hit Rs 85.245 billion. It rose 112.71 percent from Rs 40.076 billion a year ago.
Month-on-Month and Year-on-Year Trends
Month by month, mobile imports grow by 6.41% in August 2025 to $155.164 million. This compares to $145.345 million in July. From year to year, August imports were up 95.69% , sharply higher than the $79.290 million recorded in August 2024.
The big increase follows a drop in imports during the prior fiscal year. In 2024-25, Pakistan brought in devices worth $1.494 billion. That marked a 21.31 percent fall from $1.898 billion in 2023-24. In rupees, 2024-25 imports totaled Rs 417.351 billion. They fell 22.09 percent from Rs 535.690 billion the year before.
Telecom Sector Overview
Overall telecom imports, which include mobile phones and other equipment, also recorded a slowdown last year. The total stood at $2.099 billion in FY2024-25, reflecting an 11.30 percent decline compared to $2.366 billion in 2023-24.
Rise of Local Assembly
Local manufacturing keeps growing, per industry reports. In the first seven months of 2025, from January to July, plants made 17.83 million handsets. That’s far more than the 1.03 million devices imported for sale.
Just in July 2025, the local assembly produced 3.59 million handsets. Imports added only 0.17 million units. Of the 17.83 million made this year, 9.36 million were basic 2G phones. The rest, 8 million, were smartphones.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority reports that 68 percent of devices on local networks are smartphones. The other 32 percent are 2G models. This points to a clear shift to advanced phones.
What This Means for the Market
Rising imports signal ongoing high demand for mobiles in Pakistan even as local production is growing fast. Experts note possible shortages in domestic assembly. Some buyers favor name-brand imports or the impact of easing restrictions on imports.
Smartphone use is climbing, with over two-thirds of active devices on modern networks. Rivalry between imported and local models will likely heat up. The government must juggle foreign currency needs with demands for new tech.
For more daily updates, please visit our News Section.