Dawn reported on 26 October 2026 that smartphone prices in Karachi markets rose by Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000 across major brands. ProPakistani relayed the report the same day.
Prices quoted in Karachi markets
Dawn reports that a phone with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage cost about Rs 20,000 until last year and is now priced above Rs 30,000.
A shopper at Abdullah Mobile Market in North Karachi told Dawn that shopkeepers quoted Rs 35,000 to Rs 40,000 for phones with similar specifications. The same phones cost Rs 20,000 to Rs 22,000 before. A buyer at Saddar Mobile Market said the model he wanted rose from Rs 22,000 to Rs 23,000 to about Rs 30,000.
Reasons given by the trade
Muhammad Rizwan Irfan, president of the Karachi Electronics Dealers Association, said taxes had not risen enough to explain the increase and named rising chip costs.
Mian Abdul Rehman of the Pakistan Mobile Phone Manufacturers Association linked the rise to RAM and ROM costs. He said AI companies are paying high prices for these parts.
Some shoppers told Dawn they blamed government taxes. Others pointed to the US-Iran war and its effect on trade. Dawn reports both as shoppers' views.
Buyer response
Dawn reports that many buyers are moving to used phones and to kit phones. Kit phones are refurbished sets imported in bulk without retail packaging to avoid heavy customs duties. Some shoppers told Dawn they doubt these match a new phone for reliability.
The report rests on shopper and dealer accounts from several Karachi markets. It gives no price series for named models.