IT ministry to promote local mobile phone assembling
The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) has forwarded a summary to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) to incentivise the mobile phone assembling and boost manufacturing in Pakistan, reported a media outlet.
ECC would now decide the fate of the summary, it was further reported.
Federal Minister for IT and Telecom Syed Amin Ul Haque said the availability of locally produced smart phones in affordable prices is his ministry’s top priority for the growth of telecom sector and to achieve high mobile broadband penetration in the country.
He observed that beginning with assembly, it was indispensable for the country to build local smart phone manufacturing capability with the objective of increasing the foreign direct investment in the country.
The minister said Pakistan could save foreign exchange on smart phone imports, if assembly is done locally. Additionally, down the line, Pakistan could also earn foreign exchange through the export of focused local smart phone manufacturing.
He further said the move would also create employment opportunities for locals besides promoting growth of related support industries like packaging material and smart phone accessories etc.
