Pakistan’s local cellphone manufacturing surpasses imports by nearly 4.5 million devices — regulator 

ISLAMABAD: The production of mobile phones by Pakistani manufacturers has surpassed the number of mobile phones imported by the country, the country’s telecom regulator said on Thursday, with the number of locally manufactured devices reaching 12.27 million during January-July 2021. 
The number of mobile phones imported by the country was recorded at 8.29 million during this period, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority said in a statement. The country has achieved this milestone within seven months of the introduction of the Mobile Device Manufacturing (MDM) authorization regime, which allows local and foreign companies to manufacture devices in Pakistan, PTA said.
“This trend reflects a positive uptake on PTA’s MDM authorization regulatory regime,” the regulator added, saying locally made mobile devices included 4.87 million 4G smartphones. 
So far, according to the PTA, 26 companies, including Samsung, Nokia, Oppo, TECNO, Infinix, Vgotel and Q-mobile, have been authorized to manufacture mobile devices in Pakistan. 
PTA attributed a favorable environment for mobile device manufacturing in Pakistan to the successful implementation of its Device Identification Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS). 
In late 2017, the government introduced the system to combat the smuggling of mobile phones and regulate devices in its volatile market. 
“It has also contributed positively to the mobile ecosystem of Pakistan by eliminating counterfeit device market, providing a level playing field for commercial entities,” the regulator said, pointing to growing trust among consumers. 
Several local mobile manufacturers have surfaced in the Pakistani market since the introduction of the new policies. Previously, the country relied only on imports for its ever-growing demand for latest mobile devices, which would cost it hundreds of thousands of dollars in foreign exchange.