Pakistan has seen a significant increase in mobile phone imports, which soared by 209% to $1.462 billion in the first ten months of FY24. This is a substantial rise compared to the $473.287 million recorded in the same period last year. In April 2024 alone, mobile phone imports experienced a 5.44% increase compared to March 2024, reaching $161.393 million. More impressively, there was a staggering 1,424% increase compared to April 2023.
When looking at the imports in terms of Pakistani rupees, the value reached Rs414.276 billion, which is a 279% increase from Rs109.158 billion in the previous year. Not only did mobile phone imports rise, but overall telecom imports also increased significantly by 135%, reaching $1.834 billion.
In addition to the rise in imports, local manufacturing of mobile handsets also showed growth. In the first two months of 2024, Pakistan produced 6.1 million handsets. This indicates that despite facing import challenges, the mobile phone sector in Pakistan is experiencing substantial growth both in terms of imports and local production.
The remarkable increase in mobile phone imports highlights the growing demand for mobile devices in Pakistan. This surge is seen despite various import challenges, showing a robust market for mobile phones. Additionally, the growth in local manufacturing suggests that Pakistan is also making strides in producing its own handsets, which could help balance future import needs.
