Makers resume mobile phone assembly

As imports are allowed, the mobile phone manufacturing units have resumed their production, currently satisfying up to 90 per cent of the country’s demand for phone sets. Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) data showed mobile phone imports surged 77pc year-on-year to $179.47 million during July-August of 2023-24. Pakistan Mobile Phone Manufacturers Association (PMPMA) Senior Vice Chairman Muzzafar Paracha believed that the easing of the opening of letters of credit for imports would help end the mobile phone shortages in the country. “Within two months the locally assembled sets are meeting around 90pc market needs,” he added. He said almost all 30 mobile assembly units including three foreign brands have restarted their operations and up to 2m phone sets were currently being rolled out. The government restricted the LCs opening due to the shortage of dollars and almost all the manufacturing units had been closed by the end of March.