Pakistan will start exporting mobile phones in January 2022. Samsung is in a joint venture with a local partner. Lucky Cement Ltd (LCL) ‘s subsidiary Lucky Motor Corporation had signed an agreement with Samsung Gulf Electronics Co, FZE for producing Samsung mobile devices in Pakistan.
In a testimony before the Senate Standing Committee on Commerce chaired by Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, the adviser said a Chinese company was setting up a mobile phone manufacturing factory in Karachi. Talking to Dawn following the committee meeting, Mr. Dawood said the production of mobile phones has already started in Pakistan. He said he is now trying to convince the Chinese to start mobile phone exports from Pakistan. The Chinese started production last year and I have given them a target of December 2021.
To a question, if there were any exports targets for mobile phones being manufactured in Pakistan, the adviser said that it is a new product for exports and there is no such target.
Regarding Samsung’s operations in the country, Mr. Dawood said that initially, Samsung had refused to come to Pakistan. “However, later Samsung changed its earlier decision and agreed to come to Pakistan. A joint venture with a local partner is on,” he added. The adviser said he was optimistic about the uptick in exports of mobile phones from the country.
In a stock filing last week, Lucky Cement Ltd (LCL) said that its subsidiary Lucky Motor Corporation had signed an agreement with Samsung Gulf Electronics Co, FZE for producing Samsung mobile devices in Pakistan.
DG Trade Policy Waqas Azeem briefed the committee that exports targets in the last two programmed were not realistic and hence unattainable. In previous trade policies, the emphasis was on three markets, including China and the EU.
Additional Secretary Commerce Mujtaba Memon apprised the committee that the government has reduced energy rates for industries. Duty and taxes on the raw materials have been slashed too, he added. “We have created new trading partners. Our emphasis on exports in new development sectors other than the traditional sector has also contributed to our exports,” Mr. Memon said.
The commerce adviser said the government has not offered any subsidy to the industry in energy. “The sector should be provided electricity at par with the industries of the rival countries”.
He emphasized that Pakistan’s exports were minimal, and the country must look towards new sectors. “We are bringing 11 new sectors including engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, auto parts, fruit and vegetable, meat and poultry which will further improve our exports,” he underlined.
