Pakistan Imported Rs. 45 Billion Worth Handsets in 2010-11

m3Handset import bill of various brands, prices and features has been registered at Rs. 44.69 billion in the outgoing financial year (2010-11), up from Rs 26.44 billion import bill recorded during the same period previous year, said Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) in its latest stats.

FBS report said that the handsets sales and its imports surged substantially depicting the tremendous growth of 70 percent in the closing fiscal year 2010-11 compared with previous year.

The average monthly expense of handsets reached Rs 3.72 billion in FY 11 versus Rs 2.2 billion monthly import bill recorded in FY 10.

Analysts said the handsets growth in sales and imports is natural as the local demand has been growing side by side with increasing SIMs number of different operators. In addition, high priced smartphones are significantly contributing towards the overall value of the import bill.

Customers purchase gadgets with emerging trends, style and technology of the brands. They replace their handsets normally in one to two years depending on brands – whether it is Chinese or others.

Besides, demand and sales of handsets increase coupled by the snatched/theft cases and dysfunctional of gadgets in the local market.

Markets dealers said that sales of handsets have increased more than one million units per month, which stood almost half in the last fiscal year. The sales have picked up at accelerated pace with increasing demand in the local markets, particularly in the rural areas in addition to sales growth in big cities.

More than 80 percent of the handsets imports are carried out from China including Chinese brands and renowned brands. However, Chinese-made handsets gained lion share in the local markets owing to lower prices amid multiple features.


  • WOW, that’s some figure. Imagine the amount of foreign exchange used on it. Only if we could set up a plant here….

    • Let Government be free from new drama everyday (which should not be expected)and then they think about this, including long term planning etc. But they always come for new dramas every time, nothing positive for Pakistan and people.

  • Holiness!

    Though I would love to know the percentage of smartphones that were imported?

    • If you term symbian as smartphones, then their share is around 5 percent

      Reference: Naeem Tabish, Head HTC

  • Hope local manufacturers can take up some of the market share instead of so much spent on import. I saw ads from a local manufacturer called megagate but can’t seem to find their website not sure whether there are anyother local home grown handset manufacturers present.

  • Government Body Should welcome the big giants of handset manufacturers to start their operation in Pakistan, that will reduce our Import Bill and also creat Jobs in our country.
    That will improve our economy and introduce new technologies.

  • what is doing pakistan.most things are imported here.and too much capital draining.cellphon,television,automobiles,petrolium,machinary and pta ni kya kya.cellphone making is now home industry in china and we are so helpless

    • Kaun say nakhray? Roti nahe hai ka definition ye nahe ky wheat khatam hai, awam ke pohanch nahe hai high prices ke wajha sy, this is real definition. Warna wheat bohat hai Pakistan mai. Aur kuch na-shukray (apko chor kar) har waqt rotay hain, warna bohat kuch hai Pakistan mai, lakin na-umeedi to bemari ke tarha lag gae hai.

    • Hum khud teek ho jaen tho is govt ko hathon mai utha sakte hain…

      Auron k teek hone ka intezar karte rahy tho isi tarah hi reh jao ge..,

  • Hi,

    This is country manager Nokia Pakistan. We are being faced with big bamboo by chinese companies. Maybe we will shutdown the Nokia business in pakistan, if this goes on like this!

  • Asslamoalikum sir hamaray gaon mein dsl ki saholat mayasr nhi hai kindly es k baray mein jald koi aqdamt kijiye ge apki mehrbabi ho g
    Adnan Mehmood CH NO 520 G.B T.T.S


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