Samsung, one of the world’s top mobile phone manufacturers, has finally begun production in Pakistan, raising optimism among officials and business that the country’s import bill will be reduced in the months ahead.
The news was revealed on Tuesday during a meeting of the company’s top executives with Senators who had come to the factory to learn more about the fast-growing new sector and the challenges that lie ahead for Pakistan’s mobile manufacturing business.
“We were informed that Samsung has formally begun manufacturing,” Senate Standing Committee on Industries and Production Chairman Faisal Subzwari told in media talk.
He led a delegation of Senate panel members on a tour of Samsung’s production plant and an auto manufacturing unit, as well as a discussion with the management of the Export Processing Zone.
“It’s fantastic to learn that the company has begun manufacturing in less than four months,” Mr Subzwari remarked. “We went to the production plant, which was built on modern lines, and it was evident that local manpower, local industry support, and a conducive atmosphere supplied by the government contributed to such success.” However, I feel that we must progress beyond simply expanding the assembly area to localising the industry.”
The domestic production of cellular phones has grown rapidly in the country. According to figures from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the number of mobile phones produced by local manufacturing plants nearly doubled to 18.87 million in the first ten months of this year, compared to 45 million imported.
Despite the fact that domestic production of mobile phones has increased, imports have remained high. According to PTA data, mobile phones worth $644.673 million were imported in the first four months of 2021 (July-October), up 15.54 percent from $557.961 million in the same period last year.
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