Pakistan produces over 17 million mobile phones in six months

WEB DESK: In the first half of 2024, local mobile assembly and manufacturing facilities in Pakistan produced 17.34 million mobile phones, while commercial imports reached 0.84 million units.

The breakdown of local production reveals that out of the total devices manufactured, 11.15 million were smartphones, and 6.19 million were 2G devices.

Infinix emerged as the leading producer, manufacturing 2.49 million units during the January-June period. TECNO and Itel followed, with production figures of 1.89 million and 1.83 million units, respectively.

Despite these numbers, the local mobile production sector has been experiencing a decline since 2022, largely due to the country’s economic challenges and rising interest rates, which have constrained industry growth.

In 2021, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) reported the production of 24.66 million devices. By 2023, this figure had dropped to 21.28 million, marking a decrease of approximately 13.71 per cent.

Commercial imports have also faced a steep decline, falling from 24.51 million units in 2020 to just 1.58 million units in 2023. This reduction is largely attributed to import restrictions imposed by the central bank to address the trade imbalance and mitigate the outflow of foreign currency.

2G phone usage declines by nearly 40 per cent in Pakistan: PTA report

As internet services expand in Pakistan, the penetration of smartphone devices on the local network has surged to 61 per cent, up from 59 per cent in 2023 and 56 per cent in 2022. This growth reflects the increasing accessibility and affordability of modern smartphones.

In contrast, the use of 2G devices has declined to 39 per cent, down from 41 per cent in 2023 and 44 per cent in 2022. This shift highlights a move towards more advanced technology, signalling a significant transformation in the digital landscape of Pakistan.

As more users embrace smartphones, the demand for 2G services continues to wane, reshaping the network’s usage trends.

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