Key Takeaways
- Pakistan imported mobile phones worth $274.129 million in the first two months of fiscal year 2026-27, down from $300.741 million in the same period last year.
- The decline in mobile phone imports is attributed to a $27 million reduction, or nearly 9 percent, compared to the previous year.
- Telecom equipment imports, however, increased by 8.95 percent, reflecting investments in network expansion and preparations for next-generation services.
Pakistan's mobile phone import bill for the first two months of fiscal year 2026-27 saw a significant drop, with imports valued at $274.129 million, a decrease of nearly 9 percent from the $300.741 million recorded in the same period last year.
The decline is particularly notable in rupee terms, where imports fell by 10.53 percent to Rs. 76.267 billion from Rs. 85.245 billion in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.
August specifically saw a 13.8 percent drop in mobile phone imports, with the value falling to $133.6 million from $155.129 million in the same month last year.
Despite the overall decrease, the import of telecom equipment showed a different trend, increasing by 8.95 percent to $432.044 million from $395.536 million in the same period last year.
In rupee terms, these imports rose by 6.95 percent to Rs. 120.211 billion from Rs. 112.398 billion, indicating a continued investment in the telecommunications sector.
However, the momentum in telecom equipment imports slowed in August, with a 3.42 percent decrease to $197.269 million from $204.263 million in the same month last year.
The increase in telecom equipment imports is attributed to ongoing network expansion and preparations for next-generation mobile services, which are expected to enhance the country's telecommunications infrastructure.
The data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics highlights the contrasting trends in mobile phone and telecom equipment imports, reflecting the evolving dynamics of the telecommunications market in Pakistan.
