By Zainab Shafiq 
The aspirational dream of being able to afford the new iPhone in Pakistan is likely to fall even more out of sync. Due to growing trade wars between the US and East Asia, the price of Apple’s flagship phones is set to jack up by leaps and bounds — maybe even more than Rs 1 million.
At the centre of this impending crisis is a series of draconian tariffs placed by US President Donald Trump on Chinese and Taiwanese imports. These markets are paramount to Apple’s supply chain, providing essential parts for its iconic products. With tariffs of up to 50% on Chinese imports and 32% on Taiwanese ones, Apple’s manufacturing cost is likely to shoot up — and world consumers, even those in Pakistan, might end up paying the price.
New iPhone in Pakistan would now cost an arm and a leg
Industry insiders caution that if Apple transfers these expenses to buyers, the cost of even the lowest model iPhone 16 would jump from $799 to more than $1,100. Top-of-the-line models could jump far higher than $2,000. In Pakistan, where the rupee is already weakening and inflation is a dominant issue, this would drive luxury iPhones to a record level of Rs 1 million or more.
The implications are not only for smartphones. Tablets, laptops, and smartwatches — all of which heavily depend on Taiwanese and Chinese production — should expect price hikes. Pakistani computer aficionados, who already grapple with prohibitive import levies and a weak currency, now have a technology market to navigate that is likely to be even more prohibitive.
This trend is especially alarming for an emerging digital economy such as Pakistan, where mobile technology is at the heart of education, commerce, and everyday life. As affordability declines among consumers, access to high-quality technology may become a privilege instead of an instrument of empowerment.
Globally, Apple is grappling with the ripple effects of these tariffs. The company’s shares have taken a hit, falling by over 9%, reflecting investor anxiety over supply chain vulnerabilities. For now, all eyes are on how Apple responds — whether it will absorb the shock or shift the burden to consumers.
Either way, the era of affordable flagship smartphones in Pakistan seems to be drawing to a close.
Also, see:
Sam Altman Urges Caution as Ghibli-Inspired AI Trend Sweeps the Internet