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Pakistan’s mobile phone imports declined by 16.6% during the first quarter of fiscal year 2026-27, even as September recorded a slight month-on-month recovery, according to the latest import figures.
The country imported mobile phones worth $417.24 million during July–September 2026, compared with approximately $500.01 million in the same period last year. The figures indicate that the improvement seen in September was not enough to offset the broader slowdown in mobile phone imports.
Mobile Phone Imports Rise in September but Remain Below Last Year
In September 2026, Pakistan’s mobile phone import bill reached $143.14 million, up 7.1% from $133.66 million in August. However, compared with September 2025, when imports stood at $199.27 million, the latest figure represents a substantial 28.2% year-on-year decline.
A similar trend emerged in rupee terms. Mobile phone imports increased to Rs. 39.75 billion in September from Rs. 37.17 billion in August, reflecting month-on-month growth of 7%. But the import bill was still 29.2% below the Rs. 56.17 billion recorded in September last year.
During the July–September quarter, the cumulative mobile phone import bill stood at Rs. 116.01 billion, down 18% from Rs. 141.42 billion in the corresponding period of FY2025-26.
Pakistan Mobile Phone Imports: Key Figures
| Period | Imports in USD | Change |
|---|---|---|
| July–September FY2026-27 | $417.24 million | Down 16.6% year-on-year |
| July–September FY2025-26 | Approx. $500.01 million | Comparison period |
| September 2026 | $143.14 million | Up 7.1% month-on-month |
| August 2026 | $133.66 million | Previous month |
| September 2025 | $199.27 million | September 2026 down 28.2% year-on-year |
The total telecommunications import bill, which includes mobile phones and other telecom equipment, reached $220.08 million (Rs. 61.12 billion) in September, compared with $196.95 million (Rs. 54.77 billion) in August.
Despite this monthly rise, total telecom imports were 18.3% lower in dollar terms and 19.5% lower in rupee terms than in September 2025, when the import bill stood at $269.29 million (Rs. 75.92 billion).
For the entire first quarter, telecommunications imports stood at $651.80 million (Rs. 181.24 billion), compared with $665.83 million (Rs. 188.32 billion) in the same period last year. This translates into declines of 2.1% in dollar terms and 3.8% in rupee terms.
Interestingly, imports of other telecommunications apparatus moved in the opposite direction.
Pakistan imported $76.94 million (Rs. 21.37 billion) worth of other telecommunications equipment in September, up from $63.29 million (Rs. 17.60 billion) in August. On a year-on-year basis, the category grew by 9.9% in dollar terms and 8.2% in rupee terms.
The quarterly increase was even more noticeable. Imports of other telecom apparatus surged to $234.57 million (Rs. 65.23 billion) during July–September 2026, compared with $165.82 million (Rs. 46.90 billion) a year earlier, registering growth of 41.5% in dollar terms and 39.1% in rupee terms.
This suggests that the decline in overall telecom imports was largely driven by lower handset imports rather than a uniform reduction across all categories. September’s month-on-month improvement offers some indication of recovery, but it remains too early to conclude that mobile phone imports have returned to sustained growth.
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