Mobile Phone Imports in Pakistan Fall 8.85% in July–August 2026
Mobile phone imports in Pakistan fell 8.85% to $274.1 million in July–August 2026, while telecom equipment imports rose 8.95%. PBS data and what it means.
Mobile phone imports in Pakistan fell 8.85% to $274.129 million in July–August 2026, the first two months of FY27, compared with $300.741 million a year earlier, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). At the same time, imports of other telecom equipment rose 8.95%, as operators invested in networks.
Mobile phone imports in Pakistan at a glance
| Period | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | $140.434 million | –3.56% year on year |
| August 2026 | About $133.7 million | –13.82% year on year; –4.80% vs July |
| July–August 2026 | $274.129 million | –8.85% year on year |
Sources: PBS data reported by ARY News and APP. The August figure is derived from the two-month total. In rupee terms, phone imports fell 10.53%.
Telecom equipment imports are rising
Imports of other telecom equipment rose 8.95% to $432.044 million in July–August, from $395.536 million a year earlier (TechJuice). This coincides with the rollout of new spectrum and networks after the 5G auction; see our report on 5G in Pakistan.
How this compares with last year
FY26 was a strong year for handset imports. Pakistan imported mobile phones worth $1.889 billion in FY2025-26, up 26.55% from $1.492 billion a year earlier, according to official data reported by ProPakistani. The first two months of FY27 show that momentum slowing.
Local assembly dominates
Most phones sold in Pakistan are now assembled locally. Local plants produced 11.17 million handsets in January–May 2026, compared with 1.91 million commercially imported units. PTA data shows that 72.3% of devices on Pakistan’s networks are smartphones and 27.7% are 2G phones.
What it means for buyers
Lower imports of finished phones do not automatically mean higher prices, because most mid-range and budget phones are assembled locally. Imported flagship models still carry high taxes, even after the regulatory duty cuts from July 2026 explained in our PTA mobile tax guide. For current prices, see our mobile section.
Frequently asked questions
How much were mobile phone imports in July–August 2026?
$274.129 million, down 8.85% from a year earlier.
What were mobile phone imports in FY26?
$1.889 billion, up 26.55% from FY25.
Are most phones in Pakistan imported?
No. Most are assembled locally; local plants produced 11.17 million handsets in January–May 2026.
