Huawei Pakistan has opened a new Repair Centre GSC in Islamabad, marking the country’s first facility for telecom hardware equipment repairs. The government says the center could create high-skilled jobs and reduce foreign exchange outflows. It could also help Pakistan move from technology consumption to local development.
Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja spoke at the center’s inauguration. According to APP, she welcomed Huawei’s investment in Pakistan. Shaza Fatima Khawaja credited policy certainty and government support for the project. She also thanked Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and the federal cabinet.
The minister said Pakistan has made strong progress in software and IT-enabled services. However, she said local hardware repair is another important step for the telecom sector.
The new facility can currently repair 10,000 pieces of equipment. It also supports around 180 types of telecom equipment. Shaza Fatima Khawaja said the centre could expand its capacity over time. She also said it could eventually provide repair services to other countries in the region.
According to the minister, local repairs will reduce delays linked to overseas servicing. They will also help Pakistan save foreign exchange spent on sending equipment abroad. She said telecom infrastructure plays a critical role during disasters and network outages. Therefore, keeping equipment operational is important beyond everyday communication.
Huawei has operated in Pakistan since 1998, including work on the Karakoram Digital Highway. Its role has since expanded into equipment repair, maintenance and skills development. The minister also highlighted Huawei’s training programmes in Pakistan. She said Huawei academies now operate in around 230 universities.
More than 100 academies are also providing training, she added. The government views Huawei as a partner in developing Pakistan’s technology workforce. Shaza Fatima Khawaja said Pakistan and China could further expand cooperation in technology and digitalization. Skills development will also remain an important part of that cooperation.
She recalled a 2024 visit to Huawei’s headquarters in China with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. During that visit, Pakistan asked Huawei to help train young people. That training programme is still running across the country. The government hopes such partnerships will help build a stronger local technology ecosystem.
