The Government of Pakistan is taking a major step to upgrade the country’s tech landscape. Minister of State for IT & Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, has confirmed that the government is actively working on a new Mobile Phones Leasing Policy. The primary goal is simply to make 5G smartphones affordable for everyone.
Currently, the number of 5G-enabled handsets in Pakistan remains low. To bridge this gap, the government intends to offer citizens high-tech phones on easy instalment plans. This move will prepare the user base for the upcoming 5G rollout in major cities.
While the decision to introduce the Mobile Phones Leasing Policy is final, the framework is still in the works. The IT Ministry has already shared a draft policy with mobile phone operators. Consequently, stakeholders are now holding consultations to finalise the financing mechanics. You can expect a final decision in the near future.
Beyond leasing, the Ministry is exploring other avenues to increase mobile penetration. Shaza Fatima stated that the IT Ministry supports reducing taxes on imported mobile phones. Lower taxes would directly improve access and affordability. However, this proposal faces debate, as the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) maintains that local manufacturing currently satisfies most of the market demand.
