According to figures from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), imports of mobile phones in Pakistan has worth $856.727 million in the first five months of 2021, up from $724.083 million in the same period last year, a gain of 18.32 percent.
Overall telecom imports into the country climbed by 26.43 percent during the study period (July-November 2021), rising from $896.592 million in July-November 2020 to $1.133 billion in July-November 2021.
The imports of mobile phones into Pakistan climbed by 41.64 percent month over month (MoM) in November 2021, to $212.055 million, compared to $149.712 million in October 2021, according to PBS statistics. On a year-over-year (YoY) basis, mobile phones increased by 27.65% from $166.121 million in November 2020 to $276.121 million in November 2021.
On a month-over-month basis, total telecom imports into the country climbed by 37.50 percent to $286.957 million in November 2021, compared to $208.699 million in October 2021. Overall telecom imports increased by 40.02 percent year over year to $204.947 million in November 2020.
Imports of other apparatus climbed by 60.46 percent to $276.804 million in July-November 2021, compared to $172.509 million in July-November 2020.
Other apparatus imports increased by 26.98 percent month over month to $74.902 million in November 2021, compared to $58.987 million in October 2021, and increased by 92.92 percent from $38.826 million in November 2020.
During the period January to October 2021, local manufacturing units produced nearly double the number of commercial mobile phones imported into the country, with local production of 18.87 million compared to imported mobile phones of 9.45 million.
Despite the fact that domestic production of mobile phones has increased, imports have remained high. To promote and attract manufacturers to set up shop in Pakistan, the government implemented a mobile manufacturing strategy. In response to the policy, the PTA enacted Mobile Device Manufacturing (MDM) Regulations on January 28, 2021.
MDM Authorization has been granted to 26 businesses so far, allowing them to manufacture mobile devices in Pakistan. Samsung, Nokia, Oppo, TECNO, Infinix, Vgotel, Q-mobile, and other well-known brands are among the companies represented. Commercial imports can be compared to industrial trends on the PTA website, according to the authorities.
To read our blog on Pakistan phone commercial imports shoot-up to 110%, click here.
