Pakistan's mobile phone production climbed to 30.21m units in 2025, underscoring the rapid expansion of domestic manufacturing even as handset imports rose sharply in value during the current fiscal year.

Industry data show that 30.21m mobile devices were assembled locally over the calendar year, compared with 2.37m units imported commercially. Of the total output, 2.61m units were locally assembled mobile phones, while only 0.33m units were brought in through commercial imports during the same period.

The figures highlight continued growth in Pakistan's handset manufacturing capacity, supported by a structural shift in consumer demand. According to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, 71% of mobile devices in use are smartphones, with the remaining 29% comprising 2G models. The tilt toward smartphones has sustained demand for locally produced handsets.

Officials said the domestic industry has benefited from government incentives and infrastructure improvements, enabling both local and international manufacturers to expand assembly operations. Increased investment in production lines has helped boost output beyond last year's level, reducing some reliance on foreign-made devices and strengthening the local electronics sector.

Yet the expansion of domestic manufacturing has not halted a parallel rise in imports. In the first five months of FY2025-26, Pakistan imported mobile phones worth $801.14m, up from $570.18m during July-November of the previous fiscal year.

The increase represents a 40.51% year-on-year jump in import value, suggesting robust consumer demand even as local production scales up. The coexistence of growing assembly volumes and rising import bills reflects a market in transition, where smartphone penetration and digital connectivity continue to reshape Pakistan's mobile industry.