The Caretaker Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Dr. Umar Saif, announced on Friday that the Ministry of IT is preparing to launch the "Smartphone for All" initiative.
This program aims to provide individuals with access to smartphones through easy installment plans. Dr. Umar Saif further revealed that the ministry is concurrently establishing a research and development fund to support mobile phone manufacturing companies and foster the growth of the mobile phone manufacturing sector.
Explaining the mechanics of the "Smartphone for All" project, he mentioned that in case of default in installment payments, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) would employ the Device Identification, Registration, and Blocking System (DIRBS) to block the handset. The minister emphasized that the primary goal is to encourage responsible financial behavior and ensure the continuous expansion of smartphone accessibility.
As part of this initiative, Dr. Umar Saif highlighted that telecom companies will be able to directly offer smartphones to customers through installment plans. This approach is expected to extend the benefits of mobile broadband, especially among the low-income segments in Pakistan. Dr. Umar Saif underscored that Pakistan ranks as the seventh-largest mobile phone market globally, with 190 million mobile phones currently in use. The government aims to reduce mobile phone imports by promoting the local manufacturing of affordable and high-quality mobile phones in Pakistan.
