ISLAMABAD: Local companies have manufactured 84.4 million mobile devices, demonstrating the industry’s extraordinary expansion, which has created thousands of employment over the last five years.
According to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s annual report, 25 million cellphones were created between January 2019 and September 2023.
According to the report, 33 local and foreign businesses have developed production units in accordance with the Mobile Device production (MDM) Regulations, which went into effect in 2021.
These companies, which operate both as standalone entities and through joint ventures, received a 10-year MDM permission.
The government has began exporting locally made handsets, with 120,000 SEEGO brand mobiles labeled ‘made in Pakistan’ shipped to the African market in December 2022.
The PTA’s Device Identification Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS) leveled the playing field for foreign investment in Pakistan’s mobile device manufacturing business.
In addition to promoting local production, DIRBS has generated money for the government, collecting Rs 48.8 billion in Customs duties in the individual category between January 15, 2019, and October 25, 2023.
This revenue stream remained untapped prior to the implementation of DIRBS.
Using this technique, PTA has barred 758,113 International Mobile Equipment Identities (IMEIs) reported as stolen.
DIRBS has also detected and blacklisted 35.5 million non-compliant IMEIs, including 7.3 million duplicate or cloned numbers.
