Mobile phone imports decline 8.85% in July-August: PBS
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s mobile phone imports declined 8.85 percent during the first two months of the current fiscal year, falling to $274.129 million from $300.741 million in the corresponding period of last fiscal year, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). In rupee terms, mobile phone imports decreased 10.53 percent to Rs76.267 billion during July-August 2026,…
Pakistan's imports of mobile phones dropped 8.85% in July-August 2026 when compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year, according to a report by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). The value of mobile phone imports fell to $274.129 million ($76.267 billion PKR) during July-August 2026, a decline of 10.53% from $300.741 million ($85.245 billion PKR) during the same period in 2025.
The year-on-year decline for mobile phone imports stood at 13.82%, with imports dropping to $133.695 million ($197.269 million PKR) in August 2026 from $155.129 million ($197.269 million PKR) in August 2025. On a month-on-month basis, imports of mobile phones reduced by 4.80% in August 2026 compared to $140.434 million ($234.775 million PKR) in July 2026.
Meanwhile, Pakistan's demand for telecom infrastructure remained robust during the period, with imports of telecom equipment increasing 8.95% to $432.044 million ($120.211 billion PKR) during July-August 2026, up from $395.536 million ($112.398 billion PKR) in the corresponding period in 2025. On a year-on-year basis, telecom equipment imports rose 6.95% to $197.269 million ($120.211 billion PKR) in August 2026, compared to $204.263 million ($112.398 billion PKR) in August 2025.
However, on a month-on-month basis, imports of telecom equipment declined 15.98% in August 2026, falling to $234.775 million ($197.269 million PKR) from $234.775 million ($234.775 million PKR) in July 2026.
The increase in telecom equipment imports is attributed to ongoing investments in the country's telecom infrastructure, including network expansion and preparations for the launch of next-generation mobile services. The contrast between the decline in mobile phone imports and the steady rise in telecom equipment imports suggests a shift in the nature of telecom-related imports, with infrastructure and network equipment continuing to drive significant demand, while handset imports remain comparatively low during the first two months of the fiscal year.
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