Islamabad, July 24, 2025: In a major shift towards self-reliance, Pakistan’s mobile phone imports dropped by 21.3% in the fiscal year 2024–25, signaling a significant change in the country’s telecom landscape. According to the latest data, mobile devices worth $1.494 billion were imported during the year, compared to $1.898 billion in FY 2023–24.
In Pakistani rupees, the drop is even more evident. Imports declined by Rs118 billion, falling from Rs535.69 billion to Rs417.35 billion, reflecting a 22.09% reduction year-on-year. The decline is largely driven by government policies favoring local production and a weakened demand due to economic constraints.
Monthly Uptick in June 2025
Despite the annual dip, a month-wise comparison shows a recovery trend. In June 2025, mobile imports rose to $139.42 million, marking a 39.6% increase from May’s $99.87 million. However, the figure is still far below the $278.57 million recorded in June 2024, indicating a 50% decline year-on-year.
Local Smartphone Manufacturing on the Rise
While imports fall, local mobile manufacturing in Pakistan is booming. In the first five months of 2025 alone, domestic plants assembled 12.05 million devices, compared to only 0.76 million units imported commercially. This reflects a growing reliance on local production to meet market demand.
For the entire calendar year 2024, 31.38 million mobile phones were manufactured locally, while commercial imports remained at just 1.71 million units. This shift shows Pakistan’s mobile industry is not only expanding but also aligning with the goal of reducing dependency on foreign suppliers.
Out of the 12.05 million locally made handsets in 2025, 6.53 million were basic 2G phones and 5.52 million were smartphones, highlighting diversity in production. Moreover, PTA reports that 67% of users in Pakistan now use smartphones, indicating strong market preference for smart devices.
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Telecom Imports Overall Decline
Pakistan’s total telecom imports, which include other communication equipment, dropped by 11.3% to $2.099 billion in FY 2024–25 from $2.366 billion in the previous year. This aligns with the broader strategy to boost local manufacturing and reduce foreign exchange outflows.
