Mobile phone imports rise 29% in July-April FY2025-26 despite pressure on external account
Pakistan spent approximately $1.62 billion on mobile phone imports during the first 10 months of fiscal year 2025–26, highlighting strong consumer demand despite pressure on the country’s fragile external account.
According to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), mobile phone imports increased by 29% during July-April FY2025–26 compared with $1.25 billion recorded in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.
The sharp increase in imports comes as Pakistan remains under an International Monetary Fund loan programme that requires strict fiscal and external sector discipline.
Analysts said the rising import bill for mobile phones could add pressure on Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves and current account management.
On May 13, 2026, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said the IMF Executive Board had completed the third review under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and approved disbursement of SDR 760 million for Pakistan.
The IMF also approved a second tranche of SDR 154 million under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF).
According to the SBP, Pakistan received a total of SDR 914 million, equivalent to around $1.3 billion, from the IMF on May 12, 2026.
The amount received under the IMF programme remained lower than Pakistan’s mobile phone import bill during the first 10 months of the fiscal year.
Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, Pakistan’s spending on imported mobile phones remained elevated in April 2026.
The country imported mobile phones worth $177 million during April, representing an increase of 41% compared with the same month last year and 19% higher than March 2026.
Industry experts said growing smartphone penetration, demand for internet connectivity and expansion of digital services continued to drive mobile phone imports in Pakistan.
