By Abdul Wajid Khan ISLAMABAD, Feb. 24 (INP-WealthPK): Pakistan’s Mobile Device Manufacturing Policy (MDMP) is producing good results by promoting localisation of cellphone production as the world’s smartphone giants are making their entry into Pakistan’s cellphone manufacturing industry. According to the latest data released by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), local production of mobile phones increased by 88% to 24.66 million during calendar year 2021 from 13.05 million as compared to the same period in 2020. Engineer Asim Ayaz, who is Secretary Mobile Device Manufacturing Committee of the Engineering Development Board (EDB), Ministry of Industries and Production, said while talking to INP-WealthPK that the government’s MDMP has so far produced good results and it has attracted the biggest brands from world’s smartphone manufacturing industry to invest in Pakistan to produce cellphones. He said that so far 29 companies have entered into local industry for cellphone production, and the country has started importing completely knocked down (CKD) or semi-knocked down (SKD) kits instead of completely built-up units (CBU). He said that CKD kits are relatively cheaper and local value addition is made on them. Under the MDMP, the government has rationalised its tariff policy and incentivised the import of CKD or SKD kits. The government has provided incentives for local manufacturing to ensure technology transfer, employment generation and to increase exports of smartphones. “The local production of cellphones is bringing benefits and creating more employment opportunities for the locals. Value addition in cellphone manufacturing is a complex process. Currently, local value addition in cellphone production is about 25 to 30 percent,” Asim said. “Big brands like Samsung, Nokia and others have already started production, while Chinese smartphone giant Xiaomi has also recently started production in Pakistan. The country’s mobile phone market is further expanding with an increase in local production,” he added. Xiaomi’s entry into the Pakistan industry Pakistan’s high-level officials and experts welcomed the announcement of Chinese tech giant Xiaomi to start a joint venture with Airlink Communications to produce locally-assembled mobile phones in Pakistan. Experts say that Xiaomi’s entry will give a boost to Pakistan’s mobile manufacturing industry and provide benefits to the economy. Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood said in his recent statement that the government’s "Make-in-Pakistan” policy continues to show positive results, and he has been informed that Xiaomi, which is the world’s second largest mobile manufacturer, has partnered with Airlink Communications to manufacture smartphones in Pakistan. He added that the initial production will be 2.5 to 3 million handsets annually. The production facility will be established in Quaid-e-Azam Industrial Estate, Lahore. The production facility will be functional in January 2022 and it will create 3,000 direct or indirect jobs. Benefits of localisation The mobile device manufacturing industry has massive potential in Pakistan because the country has a huge and attractive market for mobile handsets. To a question, Asim told WealthPK that the maximum benefits of localisation of cellphone production will appear with the passage of time. He added that the assembling of cellphones encourages manufacturing also, adding that in future there will be more focus on manufacturing of parts. Awais Ahmed, a retailer of smartphones in Islamabad, said the prices of locally-assembled phones should be reduced without compromising on quality, but it is seen that prices of these phones are also increasing. He said that companies should pass on the benefits of incentives to customers. Asim said the devaluation of the rupee against the dollar is increasing the cost of production and prices of locally-assembled phones. He hoped that in future the customers will get benefits from localisation. In Pakistan, due to investor-friendly policy, the localisation of cellphone production has already started facilitating value addition. It is believed that in future the localisation will give massive economic benefits, and it will convert Pakistan into manufacturing hub of cellphones. Local manufacturing industry will be upgraded and it will benefit from the expertise and technology of world’s best smartphone brands. It will increase foreign direct investment in the country, and also enhance competitiveness, efficiency and capacity of local industry. It is expected that all foreign brands will also start indigenisation of parts. In a landmark achievement, Pakistan has already started the export of locally-assembled cellphones. In August last year, Pakistan had started exporting smartphones and the first consignment of 5,500 units of 4G smartphones carrying “Manufactured in Pakistan” tag was exported to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is believed that localisation will have a positive impact on allied industries as well including packaging and plastic parts. Local manufacturing of cellphones will also promote 4G and 5G penetration in the country because, according to the latest data of PTA, Pakistan has 105 million 3G/4G subscribers with 47.47 percent penetration. Pakistan needs to enhance this penetration rate significantly to boost its ongoing digitalisation drive to reap more economic dividends. Pakistan should also encourage international brands to set up their research and development (R&D) centres in Pakistan, and take steps to establish an ecosystem for software applications as well.