Pakistan’s appetite for telecom infrastructure remains incredibly strong. In July 2026, telecom equipment imports surged by 19.75% year-on-year. Conversely, mobile phone imports experienced a noticeable decline during the same period.
According to official data from the Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS), telecom equipment imports reached Rs. 65.438 billion in July 2026. This figure previously stood at Rs. 54.647 billion during the same month last year. Consequently, this surge added more than Rs. 10.7 billion to the national import bill.
The primary driver behind this increase is continuous investment in Pakistan’s telecom infrastructure. Network providers are actively expanding their reach. Furthermore, the ongoing rollout of next-generation mobile services requires heavy infrastructure spending.
Despite the massive year-on-year growth, telecom equipment imports actually saw a slight month-on-month dip. Specifically, these imports declined by 6.27% compared to the Rs. 69.818 billion recorded in June 2026.
Telecom Equipment Imports Surge But Mobile Phone Demand Drops
While infrastructure spending rises, consumer handset imports tell a different story. Handset demand remains comparatively subdued. In July 2026, mobile phone imports fell to Rs. 39.091 billion. This represents a 5.54% drop from the Rs. 41.385 billion recorded in July 2025.
Moreover, this downward trend continued on a month-on-month basis. Mobile phone imports decreased by 0.90% from the Rs. 39.445 billion logged in June 2026.
Overall, these contrasting trends highlight a clear shift in the composition of telecom-related imports. Infrastructure and network equipment currently dominate import demand, while handset imports shrink.
Broader Machinery Imports Show Strong Momentum
Beyond the telecom sector, the broader machinery group also displayed impressive growth. The FBS reported total machinery imports of Rs. 364.974 billion for July 2026. This marks a massive 27.06% increase from the Rs. 287.247 billion recorded in July 2025.
Here is a breakdown of the telecom and machinery import data for July 2026:
| Category | July 2026 | July 2025 | YoY Change |
| Telecom Equipment | Rs. 65.438 billion | Rs. 54.647 billion | +19.75% |
| Mobile Phones | Rs. 39.091 billion | Rs. 41.385 billion | -5.54% |
| Broader Machinery | Rs. 364.974 billion | Rs. 287.247 billion | +27.06% |
Ultimately, this underscores a very strong demand for machinery and technology-related equipment right at the start of the new fiscal year.
