ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Makhdoom Syed Murtaza Mahmud, the Federal Minister for Industries and Production, stated on Friday that the government will make it easier for the mobile phone industry to start commencing motherboards (PCBs) in Pakistan by 2023.
He was the moderator of a briefing on Mobile Device Manufacturing Policy 202O. The government has created a mobile manufacturing policy to promote and attract manufacturers to build their units in Pakistan, CEO EDB informed the chair while outlining the program’s main features. According to him, more than 30 firms have been granted MDM authorization, allowing them to manufacture mobile devices in Pakistan, as a result of the policy Mobile Device Manufacturing (MDM) regulations. Samsung, Nokia, Oppo, TECNO, Intel, Infinix, Vgotel, and Q-mobile are among the firms represented. He stated that the program has attracted over USD 76 million in investments as well as the creation of thousands of direct jobs.
Locally manufactured/assembled mobile phone sets totaled 24.66 million in 2019-2021, according to CEO EDB, while 7.16 million sets were produced locally in January-March 2022, compared to 0.61 million commercial imports over the same time. According to him, the country has 193 million smartphone customers and an 88 percent teledensity. The minister commended the policy initiative as well as the progress made in implementing the localization strategy. He stated that an R&D center for the transfer of technology and skill development in the mobile manufacturing industry is required. He went on to say that this will strengthen the mobile manufacturing industry’s position in the competitive export market.
