The mobile phone manufacturing sector in Pakistan has witnessed substantial expansion, with local factories producing 10.87 million mobile devices within the initial eight months of 2023.
This figure significantly surpasses the 0.84 million phones that were imported through regular commercial channels, as reported by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
Out of the 10.87 million phones produced in Pakistan, 7.62 million were basic 2G phones, while 3.04 million were smartphones. This underscores that the majority of phones manufactured in Pakistan are still conventional 2G feature phones.
Nevertheless, the production of smartphones is swiftly on the rise, and it is anticipated that smartphone production will soon overtake that of 2G feature phones.
Despite this noteworthy expansion in the local mobile phone manufacturing industry, Pakistan continues to heavily depend on imported mobile phones. During the first two months of the present fiscal year, mobile phone imports surged by 76%, driven by factors such as an escalating demand for smartphones, currency devaluation, and illicit trade. Data provided by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reveals that mobile phone imports in August 2023 reached a substantial $111.34 million, marking a 77% increase compared to the same month in 2022.
In July 2023, the import of mobile phones amounted to $68.13 million, signifying a 76% upturn compared to the figures from the previous July.