On 21st May 2020, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) in its meeting approved the Mobile Device Manufacturing Policy which was further endorsed by the Federal Cabinet.
Fed. Cabinet Approves the First Ever Mobile Device Manufacturing Policy
Minister for Industries and Production-Mr. Muhammad Hammad Azhar also acknowledged the support from the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of IT & Telecom, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, Ministry of Planning, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and consideration of ECC. Due to the successful implementation of Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS), that eliminated smuggling of mobile phones, the market carries a potential of over 40 million handsets. The aim of the policy is to encourage the local assemblers who will open the job opportunities to local engineers, skilled and semi-skilled educated youth. Pakistan is well poised to capitalize on the competitive human resource advantage to attract investment in the sector from across the globe. The policy aims at localization/indigenization of the parts of the mobile phone in a phased manner. The main features of the policy are given below: A total of 16 local companies are manufacturing mobile devices in the country out of which most of the companies are manufacturing feature phones i.e. 2G. The companies are now shifting to manufacturing smartphones as technology is shifting towards 4G/5G. The local manufacturers have shown satisfaction on approval of mobile phone policy and are of the considered opinion that investment in this sector will start pouring in. The Policy ensures that local manufacturing of allied parts and components such as Bluetooth, hands free, mobile accessories etc. will attract intelligent interventions at par with international best practices.
