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ISLAMABAD: The import of mobile phones surged 258.6 per cent in terms of units in FY26, resulting in higher customs duty collection, according to Pakistan Customs data released on Tuesday.
The detailed breakup of mobile phone imports was issued in response to widespread reports claiming that Pakistan spent Rs520 billion on mobile phone imports in FY26. The data distinguishes between imports of Completely Built Units (CBUs) and consignments of Completely Knocked Down (CKD) and Semi Knocked Down (SKD) kits during the fiscal year.
Within CBU imports, smartphone imports increased from about 0.29 million units in FY25 to 1.04 million units in FY26, an increase of 258.6pc, or around 750,000 additional units.
Pakistan Customs said industry feedback suggested that 60 to 70pc of the increase comprised new and used Apple iPhones and Google Pixel devices. As neither brand is assembled in Pakistan, the higher volume of officially imported handsets reflected genuine consumer demand for products unavailable through local assembly, rather than a shift away from domestically assembled devices or a reversal of the country’s assembly-based import policy.
