The federal government is preparing a new Made in Pakistan policy aimed at boosting the local production of mobile phones, laptops and other electronic devices.
The proposed policy is designed to reduce Pakistan’s reliance on imported electronics by encouraging companies to establish manufacturing facilities in the country.
According to sources, the plan covers the local production of mobile phones, laptops, signal boosters, dongles and biometric machines. It also proposes manufacturing POS machines, tracking systems and smartwatches in Pakistan.
To make local production more competitive, the government is considering tax relief on raw materials used by electronics manufacturers. The policy also proposes a levy of up to 5% on imported electronic products.
The government is further considering measures to make industrial inputs and heavy machinery more accessible to manufacturers setting up electronics production facilities.
The policy has reportedly been drafted, but its implementation is currently delayed because it has yet to receive final approval.
Pakistan imports more than $422.3 million worth of electronic devices each year. The government expects greater local manufacturing to lower the import bill while building domestic production capacity and improving the security of locally produced devices.
