Mobile manufacturing summit provides roadmap for industry development in Pakistan

With a population of more than 225 million, Pakistan requires 36 million Units annually. Pakistan produces 93% plus local demand through the recently launched mobile device manufacturing policy successfully implemented by Engineering Development Board (EDB), so if properly strategized, our population’s strength and local demand can quickly generate and accelerate Pakistan’s exports.

In conjunction with the Pakistan Mobile Phone Manufacturers Association (PMPMA), the Engineering Development Board (EDB) recently organized a summit to highlight the industry’s enormous potential.

At this event, 31 local manufacturers were in total present. This included Pakistan’s largest mobile phone manufacturers, which produced well-known brands like:

As key representatives on behalf of the association, Mian Abdur Rehman (Chairman), Muzaffar Piracha (Senior Vice Chairman), Aamir Allawala (Vice Chairman), and Zeeshan Mianoor (Deputy Vice Chairman) were in attendance alongside representatives from Samsung, Xiaomi, ZTE, Realme, Vivo, Oppo, Tecno, Infinix, Itel, G’FIVE, VNUS, Mobo Mobile, Digit,

It was a privilege to welcome the Federal Minister for Industries and Production, Makhdoom Syed Murtaza Mahmud, as the event’s principal guest. All relevant stakeholders received a much-needed platform at the event:

Manufacturers of mobile devices, officials from the Ministry of Industries and Production, the Ministry of Commerce, the Board of Investment, the National Tariff Commission, the Telecom Federal Board of Revenue, and the Ministry of Information Technology (IT) formed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) with the intention of expanding investment opportunities and employment opportunities in the mobile assembly sector.

The purpose of the event was to obtain feedback from all relevant stakeholders regarding the local manufacturing of mobile phones in order to develop a development plan that would maximize the output of the industry and benefit the local population.

Experts in the field discussed the enormous potential of domestic production to boost the economy, generate exports, and provide employment for the country’s expanding population.

Pakistan began producing mobile phones in 2015. As a third-world nation without a policy platform, the industry did not undergo a significant transformation. However, mobile devices began to gain popularity in the nation after 2018. Over $200 million was invested in the sector by local businesses. Pakistan’s first manufacturing policy for mobile devices was formulated in light of this circumstance.

Major industry professionals and government figures were present at the event to discuss the possibility of local mobile manufacturing in Pakistan with participants. If the local mobile industry grows at a steady rate and receives government support, officials believe it can contribute $14 billion to the national budget. The audience is given a number of reasons to back up their assumption.

First, Pakistan has a workforce that is inexpensive and readily available. A significant workforce is required for operation of a local mobile phone assembly plant due to the industry’s labor-intensive nature. Given the low cost of the workforce, the product can also be produced in a more cost-effective manner. Utilizing solar energy may also have the potential to lower the price of energy, which would be beneficial to Pakistan’s manufacturing facilities. When compared to other products or categories, manufacturing mobile phones requires a competitive advantage.

The participants emphasized the significance of Pakistan’s economy to the mobile phone industry. They requested the government’s special attention in order to accelerate the development of this industry and take advantage of the export opportunity, which would undoubtedly increase Pakistan’s exports in order to balance the trade deficit.