Pakistan’s local manufacturing and assembling plants have achieved a remarkable milestone by producing over 2.2 million mobile phones in the opening month of 2024. This surge in local production is a substantial increase compared to the 0.24 million units imported commercially during the same period.
Among the 2.27 million mobile handsets assembled domestically, there were 0.72 million 2G devices and 1.55 million smartphones, showcasing a diverse range of products catering to various consumer needs.
According to data from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), smartphones constitute 60 percent of the mobile devices on the Pakistani network, with the remaining 40 percent being 2G phones. This underscores the growing demand for advanced mobile technologies within the country.
However, it’s worth noting that local manufacturing and assembly faced a minor setback in the preceding year, with a marginal decline of around four percent in 2023. This decline was primarily attributed to challenges in imports, particularly related to the restriction on opening letters of credit (LCs) for mobile phone accessories.
Despite this temporary setback, the robust performance in January 2024 signals a promising trajectory for Pakistan’s domestic mobile industry.