Pakistan recorded a significant rise in mobile phone imports during the current fiscal year, with import spending exceeding Rs455 billion in the first 10 months, according to official documents.
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The data showed that the country imported mobile phones worth more than Rs455.73 billion between July 2025 and April 2026, reflecting an increase of over 30 per cent compared to the same period last year. During the corresponding months of the previous fiscal year, mobile phone imports stood at approximately Rs349.77 billion.
Officials said the steady growth highlights increasing consumer demand for smartphones and communication devices despite broader economic challenges and import management measures. The rise is also being linked to expanding digital connectivity, online services, and growing reliance on mobile technology for business, education, and entertainment.
According to the documents, imports of mobile phones in April 2026 alone reached around Rs49.41 billion. This represented an increase of nearly 18.7 per cent compared to March 2026, when imports were recorded at about Rs41.63 billion.
On a year-on-year basis, April 2026 imports also showed strong growth, increasing by more than 40 per cent compared to April 2025, when mobile phone imports stood at approximately Rs35.12 billion.
The continued rise in imports comes as Pakistan’s technology and telecom sectors witness expanding smartphone usage across urban and rural areas. Industry observers say demand for mid-range and premium devices has remained resilient due to the growing popularity of digital banking, e-commerce, social media, and remote work applications.
Economic analysts, however, note that the increasing import bill may place additional pressure on foreign exchange reserves if not balanced through exports or local manufacturing growth. Pakistan has been encouraging domestic assembly and production of mobile devices in recent years to reduce dependence on imported products.
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Authorities are expected to continue monitoring import trends as part of broader economic and trade management policies.