ISLAMABAD: Pakistan plans to introduce a 5% levy on imported mobile phones and electronic devices under its proposed Mobile and Electronic Device Manufacturing Policy for 2026–2033, with the government expecting to raise $368 million to reinvest in local production, local media reported.
Details of the policy were reported by the Express Tribune, an English-language daily newspaper in Pakistan. The report said the policy, which is awaiting final approval from the prime minister, signals a shift from basic assembly to full-scale manufacturing of mobile phones, laptops, and other electronic devices, with international brands encouraged to produce locally alongside expanded capacity for Pakistani companies.
Under the plan, Pakistan aims to achieve 50% localisation in mobile phones by 2033, recover 70% of e-waste through organized systems, and train 50,000 skilled workers, including 15,000 specialized professionals.
The policy builds on the success of previous initiatives, where local assembly licenses issued by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) helped production grow from 0.1 million units in 2019 to 30.1 million units in 2025, according to the newsppaer Domestic production now meets 93% of market demand, reducing imports from 16 million units in 2019 to 2.04 million in 2025.
Additionally, Pakistan exported 230,000 mobile phones to the UAE and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, while mobile companies invested $250-300 million and generated 50,000 to 60,000 jobs.
The new policy is expected to further strengthen local manufacturing, boost exports, and support economic growth.
