KARACHI: Mobile phone sales in Pakistan witnessed a 12% year-on-year decline during the financial year 2024–25, with total handset sales falling to 30 million units compared to 34 million units sold in FY 2023–24, according to official data from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
A breakdown of the figures shows that locally assembled mobile phones accounted for 28.28 million units, down from 32.55 million in the previous year. Additionally, 1.73 million mobile phones were imported in FY 2024–25, compared to 1.89 million imported last year.
The decline is attributed to a high base effect from the previous year, which saw record sales due to tax reforms and pent-up demand. Market experts also note a lengthening mobile replacement cycle among consumers, driven by the lack of new and compelling handset launches.
From January to May 2025 alone, over 12 million mobile phones were locally assembled, reaffirming Pakistan’s growing capability in domestic manufacturing. According to the PTA, 94% of the country’s mobile phone demand is now being met through local assembly.
Top 10 Locally Assembled Brands in H1 2025:
- VGO Tel – 1.63 million units
- Infinix – 1.50 million units
- Itel – 1.23 million units
- Vivo – 1.20 million units
- Xiaomi – 0.83 million units
- Samsung – 0.76 million units
- Tecno – 0.67 million units
- G’Five – 0.64 million units
- Nokia – 0.58 million units
- Q Mobile – 0.56 million units
Khushnood Aftab, Convenor of the FPCCI’s IT and Allied Sector Committee, lauded the contribution of local mobile phone assemblers. He emphasized that their role is critical for technology transfer, employment generation, and foreign exchange savings. He urged the government to extend support for the local production of mobile phones, laptops, computers, and other tech devices, as this would help Pakistan achieve self-reliance in technology.
Financial analyst Ibrahim Amin echoed similar sentiments, stating that the widespread use of mobile phones reflects the digital readiness and adaptability of Pakistani society. He urged policymakers to pair this momentum with financial and technological literacy programs, which could help transform key sectors such as education, healthcare, governance, and fintech, while also promoting a cashless economy
