Pakistan imported $417.24 million worth of mobile phones from July to September 2026, while imports of other telecommunications equipment rose sharply.
Pakistan’s mobile phone imports fell 16.6% year over year during the first quarter of fiscal year 2026-27, reaching $417.24 million from approximately $500.01 million in the corresponding period last year, according to the latest import figures.
Although handset imports recovered slightly in September compared with August, the monthly increase was insufficient to reverse the broader quarterly decline. Meanwhile, imports of other telecommunications equipment recorded substantial growth, highlighting a divergence in the country’s telecom import trends.
Mobile Phone Imports Recover Month on Month
Pakistan imported mobile phones worth $143.14 million in September 2026, up 7.1% from $133.66 million in August. However, the September figure was 28.2% lower than the $199.27 million recorded in September 2025.
The trend was similar in rupee terms. Mobile phone imports increased to Rs. 39.75 billion in September from Rs. 37.17 billion in August, marking month-on-month growth of approximately 7%.
Despite the monthly improvement, the import bill remained 29.2% below the Rs. 56.17 billion recorded in September last year.
For July–September 2026, cumulative mobile phone imports amounted to Rs. 116.01 billion, compared with Rs. 141.42 billion in the same quarter of fiscal year 2025-26, representing an 18% decline.
Overall Telecom Imports Also Decline
Pakistan’s total telecommunications import bill, covering mobile phones and other telecom equipment, reached $220.08 million, equivalent to Rs. 61.12 billion, in September.
This was higher than the $196.95 million, or Rs. 54.77 billion, recorded in August. However, total telecommunications imports remained 18.3% lower in dollar terms and 19.5% lower in rupee terms than in September 2025, when they stood at $269.29 million and Rs. 75.92 billion, respectively.
During the first quarter of FY2026-27, total telecommunications imports amounted to $651.80 million, or Rs. 181.24 billion. This compared with $665.83 million, or Rs. 188.32 billion, in the corresponding period last year.
The figures represent year-over-year declines of 2.1% in dollar terms and 3.8% in rupee terms.
Other Telecom Equipment Imports Surge
Unlike mobile phone imports, other telecommunications equipment recorded growth in both September and the first quarter.
Imports of other telecom apparatus reached $76.94 million, equivalent to Rs. 21.37 billion, in September, up from $63.29 million, or Rs. 17.60 billion, in August.
Compared with September 2025, imports in this category increased by 9.9% in dollar terms and 8.2% in rupee terms.
The quarterly figures showed an even stronger expansion. Imports of other telecommunications equipment rose to $234.57 million, or Rs. 65.23 billion, during July–September 2026, from $165.82 million, or Rs. 46.90 billion, a year earlier.
This represented growth of 41.5% in dollar terms and 39.1% in rupee terms.
The contrasting trends indicate that the decline in mobile phone imports was a major factor in the overall slowdown in telecommunications imports, while purchases of other equipment continued to expand.
September’s recovery in handset imports provides a positive month-on-month signal, but the figures do not yet establish a sustained turnaround in Pakistan’s mobile phone import trend.
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