Pakistan has seen a remarkable growth in local mobile manufacturing, meeting nearly 95% of its demand through locally produced phones in 2024. This significant achievement marks a major leap from previous years, where the local production rate averaged just 67% over the past five years and 47% over the past eight years. According to a recent report by Topline Securities, this jump in local mobile manufacturing is a strong indicator of the country’s growing capability in technology and industrial production.
Data from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) shows that local manufacturers assembled a whopping 2.95 million mobile phones in December 2024 alone. This number was a 28% increase from the previous month, reflecting the consistent growth of the mobile manufacturing sector. This surge in production has helped Pakistan reduce its reliance on mobile phone imports.
In fact, mobile phone imports to Pakistan have been on the rise, reaching $52.9 million in the first half of the fiscal year 2025 (FY25). This is up from $35.2 million in the same period the previous year. However, despite the increase in imports, the country’s local production is still covering a large portion of its demand. This trend highlights the balance between growing domestic manufacturing and the need for some imported devices.
The telecom sector in Pakistan has also seen a notable increase in its import bill, which rose by 22.61% to $1.03 billion in the first half of FY25, up from $840 million the previous year. For the entire fiscal year 2024 (FY24), the total telecom sector imports amounted to $1.89 billion, with mobile phones contributing $65.6 million. This is nearly six times higher than the $11.6 million recorded in FY23, showing an ongoing demand for mobile phones, both local and imported.
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One of the most encouraging statistics is the dramatic growth in local manufacturing. In 2024, a total of 31.38 million mobile units were produced, which is a 47% increase compared to the previous year. Among these, 59% were smartphones, totaling 18.64 million units, while 41% were 2G feature phones, amounting to 12.74 million units. This shift towards smartphones is in line with global trends where more consumers are opting for advanced mobile devices.
Some of the top-selling brands in Pakistan’s local mobile market include Infinix, which produced 3.98 million units, followed by Itel with 3.64 million units, and VGO Tel with 3.37 million units. Other popular brands such as Tecno, Vivo, Xiaomi, Realme, Samsung, G’Five, and Nokia also made significant contributions to local production, with each brand manufacturing millions of units in the country.
As of January 2024, Pakistan had a total of 188.9 million mobile connections, covering 77.8% of the population. The country ranks seventh globally with a total of 193.2 million mobile phones. This shows that mobile usage is widespread across the nation, making mobile phones an essential part of daily life.
Most of Pakistan’s local manufacturing and assembly operations are carried out with the support of Chinese companies. This collaboration has been crucial in making the country one of the fastest-growing players in the mobile manufacturing sector. The growth in this sector has not only helped meet local demand but has also created opportunities for employment and contributed to the overall economy.
In conclusion, Pakistan’s mobile manufacturing sector is undergoing rapid growth, and the country is on track to meet its mobile phone needs almost entirely through local production. With continued investment and support, Pakistan is likely to strengthen its position as a key player in the global mobile manufacturing market.
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