Pakistan’s mobile phone industry has achieved a significant accomplishment in 2024, producing 22.59 million mobile devices in the first nine months alone. This includes 13.86 million smartphones and 8.73 million basic 2G phones, highlighting a shift toward smartphones as more people in Pakistan move away from traditional feature phones.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) noted that only 1.1 million phones were imported from January to September 2024, pointing to the rising strength of local manufacturing. Among local brands, Infinix has taken the lead, producing 2.79 million devices, a substantial number compared to others.
Although production numbers have improved, they are still slightly behind figures from previous years. In 2021, Pakistan manufactured 24.66 million mobile devices, and in 2023, the number was 21.28 million. The recent drop in production was mainly due to economic challenges and restrictions on imports, which impacted the availability of components.
This growth in local manufacturing capacity reflects Pakistan’s progress in reducing reliance on imports and boosting domestic production. The trend could lead to more affordable devices for consumers and a stronger local mobile phone industry in the long run. Additionally, the focus on producing more smartphones aligns with the demand for advanced technology and the shift toward mobile internet usage.
