Pakistan’s mobile phone industry is thriving, and the country is targeting to increase its smartphone exports to $500 million over the next two years and $5 billion in the next five years.
The government is taking steps to increase the export of smartphones manufactured in Pakistan, the Caretaker IT & Telecom Minister Dr. Umar Saif said at the Pakistan Mobile Summit on January 29.
Comparing Pakistan’s mobile phone industry with neighboring India, which exports $10 billion worth of mobile phones every year, Dr Umar Saif expressed confidence in boosting Pakistan’s presence in the global mobile phone market.
He expressed optimism about the industry’s potential for growth and the positive impact on the country’s economy.
The minister disclosed that 35 companies have obtained licenses to assemble smartphones from various brands. Additionally, a policy is in the works to encourage the local production of complete phones and certain components.
He further shared that around 90 million smartphones have been assembled in Pakistan over the past two years, and almost 0.25 million mobile phones worth $15 million have been exported.
“The Pakistani government has played a pivotal role in supporting the growth of this industry by offering various incentives.”
دو برس میں تقریباً 9 کروڑ ، موبائل فونز اسمبل کیئے جاچکے ہیں. ڈیڑھ کروڑ ڈالرز مالیت کے تقریباً ڈھائی لاکھ موبائل فونز ایکسپورٹ کیئے ہیں.#ITEXPORTS #ICT #Islamabad pic.twitter.com/kZ3yUsZwF5
— Ministry of IT & Telecom (@MoitOfficial) January 29, 2024
The minister highlighted the government’s decision to provide a 3% Research and Development (R&D) allowance to mobile manufacturers, set to take effect in the next fiscal year. Moreover, there are plans to incrementally raise the R&D allowance from 3% to 8% in the coming years, as stated by the minister.
Key points
- Pakistan assembled 90 million mobile phones in the last 2 years.
- The local mobile phone manufacturing industry is thriving with active contributions from around 35 different mobile phone brands.
- Pakistan exported nearly 250,000 mobile phones, valued at $15 million.
- Local handset manufacturers in Pakistan produced 57 million phones, exceeding the annual domestic demand of 25 million units.
- Pakistan ranks as the 7th largest cellular market globally with 191 million cellular connections.
Pakistan Mobile Summit 2024
Pakistan Mobile Summit 2024, the first-ever mobile conference in Pakistan, was held in Islamabad under the Ministry of IT & Telecom and mobile phone manufacturers, in collaboration with Techno Mobile.
Dr Umar Saif inaugurated the summit, attended by top industry leaders and over 250 attendees. The discussions mainly focused on the impact of 5G, exploring its potential for digital advancements and B2B services, along with other relevant topics.
The event had a stellar speaker lineup including CEO Airlink Muzzafar Hayat Piracha, Chairman PTA Major General (R) Hafeez ur Rehman, CEO ABACUS Fatima Asad-Said, CEO Transsion TECNO Electronic Aamir Allawala, Country GM of Careem Pakistan Muhammad Imran Saleem, Managing Director of Daraz Ehsan Saya, CEO Brand Spectrum Anwar Kabir, Jazz Head of Marketing Ali Fahd, Co-Founder & CEO HugoBank Atyab Tahir, Co-Founder and CEO of Dukan Monis Rahman among others.
An exhibition area was also set up to highlight the contributions of organizations within the mobile industry.
Julian Gorman, Head of GSMA APA said at the summit that, “The key element in the digital future is undoubtedly the smartphone that plays a pivotal role in expediting digitalization, thus bolstering the country’s economy. As the 5G era continues to expand around the world, it is imperative for Pakistan to modernize its policies to support and uplift the telecom industry.”
“We firmly believe that a supportive regulatory environment coupled with strategic policies will not only foster a healthy and competitive telecom sector but will also contribute significantly to Pakistan’s digital transformation journey.”