National ( The cow news digital ) Pakistan’s reliance on imported mobile phones has continued to grow, with official data showing a significant rise in imports during the first ten months of the current fiscal year. According to government documents, the country imported mobile phones worth over Rs 455.73 billion between July 2025 and April 2026.
The figures indicate a sharp increase of around 30.29 percent compared to Rs 349.77 billion recorded during the same period last year, highlighting the continued demand for mobile devices in the local market.
In April 2026 alone, Pakistan imported mobile phones worth Rs 49.41 billion, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 40.71 percent. On a month-to-month basis, imports also rose by 18.70 percent compared to March 2026, when the value stood at Rs 41.63 billion.
Officials noted that the steady rise in mobile phone imports reflects both growing consumer demand and increased dependency on foreign-manufactured devices. The data suggests that despite efforts to promote local manufacturing and assembly, imported smartphones continue to dominate the market.
The trend highlights the structural challenges faced by Pakistan’s technology manufacturing sector, which remains heavily reliant on imports for advanced mobile devices. Industry observers believe that the lack of large-scale domestic production capacity is one of the key factors behind the rising import bill.
Experts further point out that increasing smartphone usage across urban and rural areas, expansion of mobile internet services, and demand for upgraded devices have contributed to the surge in imports.
Economic analysts suggest that the growing import bill may also place additional pressure on foreign exchange reserves, making it important for policymakers to encourage local production and assembly to reduce dependency on imports.
Despite previous initiatives aimed at boosting local mobile phone manufacturing, imported smartphones continue to account for a major share of the market, particularly in mid-range and high-end categories.
The latest figures underline the ongoing imbalance between domestic production and consumer demand, raising questions about long-term sustainability and the need for stronger industrial policy support in the technology sector.
