The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has blocked 826,000 stolen mobile phones using the Device Identification Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS).
The system also detected and disabled more than 55 million fake or replica devices to stop unauthorized and low-quality phones from operating on local networks.
These efforts aim to protects users and ensure only verified phones function within the country, as reported in local media.
Since 2019, Pakistan has produced or assembled 136 million mobile phones locally. Of these, 37 percent were smartphones.
The local manufacturing sector has shown strong and steady growth. In 2019, the country assembled 11.74 million devices.
This rose to 13.05 million in 2020, reflecting an 11pc increase. In 2021, production surged to 24.66 million units, an 89pc jump.
Though 2022 and 2023 recovery with 31.38 million handsets produced, a 47pc rise over the previous year. In just five months of 2025, 12.05 million devices have already been manufactured.
Pakistan now meets over 94pc of its mobile market demand through local production. This shift has greatly reduced the need for imports. Commercial mobile phone imports dropped from 16.28 million units in 2019 to only 0.76 million in the first five months of 2025.
The success of DIRBS and consistent growth in local production show the country’s move toward a secure and self-reliant mobile ecosystem.
The local manufacturing sector has played key role in economic growth, leading to the establishment of 36 manufacturing facilities and the creation of 60,000 jobs.
According to data released by PTA, the Government of Pakistan also received Rs83.04 billion in revenue under the individuals import category from January 2019 to June 2025.
In 2024, Mobile Device Manufacturers (MDMs) accounted for 59pc of smartphones production in Pakistan, reflecting a rise in industry participation and growing investment in local manufacturing infrastructure.
