Caretaker IT Minister, Dr. Umar Saif, announced that starting from January 1, 2024, Pakistanis would have access to affordable ‘made in Pakistan’ mobile phones available on installment plans. Dr. Saif expressed confidence that mobile phones could be assembled and manufactured within Pakistan, with an anticipated average cost of approximately Rs15,000 per phone.
In a recent announcement, the Ministry of Information and Technology in Islamabad stated that it will not be involved in offering mobile phones through installment plans.
The spokesperson for the IT Ministry, Ali Kazim, made it clear that the ministry’s primary role is policy formulation and not the provision of mobile phones on an installment basis.
Ali Kazim further explained that the current focus of the IT Ministry is on facilitating mobile manufacturing companies in Pakistan to enhance the production of mobile phones within the country. While the scheme may lead to an increase in mobile phone production, the IT Ministry will only consider offering mobile phones on installments as a means to stimulate demand and supply, in alignment with the established policy framework.
It is important to emphasize that the responsibility for providing mobile phones on installment plans lies with mobile manufacturers, telecom companies, and banks, and not with the IT Ministry.
