The government of Pakistan is planning to bring Apple to Pakistan. The Ministry of Information Technology has ambitious plans for our nation. In recent updates, Syed Aminul Haque, the Federal Minister for IT and Telecom, disclosed that the ministry’s objective is to attract Apple to establish a presence in Pakistan.
He engaged with reporters to discuss the mobile manufacturing policy to bring Apple to Pakistan. Notably, Samsung and Nokia have established their assembly plants in Pakistan, making Apple the ministry’s next target. The IT Ministry aims to encourage Apple to establish assembly plants in Pakistan, similar to Nokia and Samsung.
To achieve this, the ministry has tasked the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) with hiring consultants to provide recommendations. The PTA is additionally directed to closely work with stakeholders in order to conduct a comprehensive market study on 5G technology.
Amin ul Haq highlighted that the caretaker government could issue policy directives for the 5G study. Furthermore, he highlighted that while IT exports witnessed an increase in May-June 2023, exports from other sectors underwent a decline during the same period.
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IT Ministry Bringing Apple to Pakistan
Under the Universal Services Fund, the IT Ministry has initiated 83 projects. It has set a strict deadline for completing all these projects by December 31. Notably, the minister emphasized that the government should refrain from investing in IT. Bringing Apple to Pakistan is much more possible now.
Instead, he urged the government to facilitate the sector’s growth and shield it from interference by the Federal Board of Revenue and the State Bank of Pakistan. The minister proposed that the government assist the telecom sector in modernizing its infrastructure to provide high-quality services to the public.
We are currently discussing with stakeholders to finalize the regulation. We are also making adjustments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) in coordination with the Information Ministry, following appropriate protocols.
Minister Haq firmly opposed safeguarding the IT industry from potential obstacles. He illustrates his intense dedication to nurturing the technology sector’s growth by bringing Apple to Pakistan. Moreover, he stressed the significance of regulatory bodies and revenue authorities adopting a supportive role rather than a direct investment in the sector.
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Fostering a collaborative partnership and implementing regulations favorable to the industry is needed. Pakistan’s technology sector can flourish and substantially contribute to the nation’s economic progress. Furthermore, Minister Haq provided insight into the ongoing refinement of regulations pertaining to social media.
He assured that he is developing these regulations in close consultation with stakeholders and has plans for their imminent finalization. Additionally, the Information Ministry oversees amending the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), adhering to established protocols.