The federal government has finalized the initial draft of a mobile phone leasing policy aimed at providing smartphones to citizens on easy installments, Secretary of the Ministry of IT and Telecom Zarrar Hasham Khan said during a background briefing on preparations for the upcoming 5G spectrum auction.
Separately, the chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Major General (R) Hafeez Ur Rehman said the price of entry-level 5G phones is expected to remain affordable and may range between Rs. 40,000 and Rs. 45,000 to support wider adoption following the 5G rollout.
Secretary IT & Telecom Zarrar Hasham Khan said the policy is being prepared by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication in consultation with relevant stakeholders and will be implemented after the launch of 5G services.
According to officials, the objective of the leasing policy is to make smartphones more affordable for the public, particularly as digital services continue to expand across the country.
Officials said certain issues were identified in the initial draft of the policy, which is why it was shared with telecom operators, banks, and industry representatives for feedback before final approval. The government believes that affordable smartphones are essential for citizens to fully benefit from high-speed internet, and the leasing facility will allow people to purchase modern devices without facing a large upfront financial burden.
Minister for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja said that most mobile phones used in Pakistan are locally manufactured, accounting for nearly 95 percent of the market, while only around three percent of users rely on expensive imported devices.
During the briefing, PTA Chairman also clarified confusion regarding taxes on mobile phones, stating that the tax imposed on handset imports is collected by the Federal Board of Revenue rather than the telecom regulator. He added that the authority does not determine tax rates for individual phone models.
The PTA chairman said the authority has held meetings with local mobile phone manufacturers, adding that around 35 companies are currently producing mobile phones in Pakistan and at least five have already started manufacturing 5G-compatible devices.
He said the government will ensure the availability of 5G smartphones in the market before the launch of services.
