Business Desk 
Oct 25, 2024
Pakistan locally manufactured 22.59 million mobile phones during the first nine months (January to September) of the calendar year 2024, according to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
Notably, during the same period, only 1.1 million handsets were commercially imported, witnessing a significant decline of 18.93% as only 1.58 million units were imported in 2023 during the corresponding timeframe. However, a colossal mark of 24.51 million mobile phone imports was hit in 2020.
Pakistan locally manufactured 13.86 million smartphones
The local mobile manufacturing industry has achieved a significant milestone, producing 13.86 million smartphones, indicating Pakistan’s shift towards smartphone manufacturing. Out of these, Infinix emerged as the top manufacturer with 2.79 million phones in its bag in 2024.
Read more: Pakistan's mobile phone imports decline by 18.93% in Q1 FY25
Despite a recovery in 2024, local mobile assembly still missed the mark of previous years. In 2021, local manufacturers produced 24.66 million phones, while in 2023 it saw a decline of 13.71% to 21.28 million units.
Additionally, with 8.73 million 2G devices produced locally, the use of 2G feature phones has decreased to 36% during the said period, a drop from 41% in 2023 and 44% in 2022, reflecting Pakistan’s ongoing digital transformation.
While the country is facing economic challenges, the domestic mobile market is showing signs of revival, largely attributed to the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) strategic decision to reduce interest rates, providing relief to manufacturers.
