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The PTA chairman explained that telecom operators were well aware of the benefits of early network deployment. "Once licences are issued, operators are unlikely to delay the rollout. They are already preparing business cases and investment plans, which will accelerate deployment," he stated.

He also noted that operators had already placed orders for 5G equipment, with local manufacturing of 5G-enabled smartphones already underway, with 500,000 to 600,000 units produced so far.

While 5G would be a key focus, Rehman emphasised that the government's priority remained improving 4G services for the 90% of users currently relying on the technology.

"In Pakistan, our focus is on enhancing 4G quality. By efficiently utilising available bands, we expect significant improvements in service quality," he said, drawing comparisons with Bangladesh’s experience with 4G.
 
Rehman stated that enhancing 4G connectivity would not only improve user experience but also boost data usage, creating a positive cycle for operators and the broader telecom ecosystem.

“Our goal is to align Pakistan’s progress with regional best practices, while ensuring connectivity and quality for our population,” he said.

Director General Licensing Aamir Shahzad revealed that the auction would follow a multi-round electronic clock auction format, with the first round focusing on mandatory bidding in the 2600 MHz and 3500 MHz bands. Around 597 MHz of spectrum would be made available for bidding.

Rehman further said that applications for the auction must be submitted by February 27, with a $15 million bank guarantee.

Qualified bidders would participate in mock auctions before the main allocation. If demand exceeded supply in any spectrum category, prices would rise in successive rounds.
 
The auction would conclude with an assignment stage, and provisional winners would be required to submit performance bank guarantees within 15 business days before licences were granted.

The PTA has set a fixed exchange rate for US dollars to Pakistani rupees for payment purposes and provided operators with the option to pay either 100% upfront or 50% upfront, with the remaining balance paid in five equal annual installments at KIBOR + 3%.

Following the issuance of licenses, 5G services are expected to launch within 3–6 months, starting with federal and provincial capitals. The rollout will then expand gradually to other cities, with operators required to deploy 1,000 new sites annually, including at least 200 sites per year to address coverage gaps.

The PTA also set ambitious targets for service quality improvements. For 4G, minimum download speeds will rise from 20 Mbps in 2026–27 to 50 Mbps by 2030–35, with latency targets reduced from 75 milliseconds to 50 milliseconds. For 5G, the minimum download speeds will increase from 50 Mbps initially to 100 Mbps by 2030–35, with latency targets reduced to 35 milliseconds.
 

Apple to manufacture iPhones in Pakistan​


Govt agrees to offer land at discounted rates, 8% performance incentive to tech giant

ZAFAR BHUTTA
February 19, 2026

tribune


ISLAMABAD: American tech giant Apple is set to start manufacturing iPhones in Pakistan after the government has agreed to offer incentives in the proposed Mobile and Electronics Manufacturing Framework.

Apple has also agreed to refurbish iPhones in Pakistan for re-export under the new framework. The government expects $100 million from the re-export of refurbished iPhones in the first year.

Apple management has asked for the provision of land at discounted rates, 8% performance incentive and plans to repair two to three-year-old iPhones.

"We have included these three conditions in the new proposed Mobile and Electronics Manufacturing Framework to be approved by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif," Engineering Development Board (EDB) Chief Executive Officer Hamad Ali Mansoor told The Express Tribune in an interview.

He said that Apple had stepped in Indonesia, Malaysia and India with the same model, where it started repairing two to three-year-old iPhones initially aimed at training the local manpower and later began manufacturing those phones.

The government is already giving a 6% performance incentive to the existing mobile phone manufacturers. However, it is going to be increased to 8% to attract Apple and other global manufacturers.

He added that Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan and secretary industries had extended full support to the new mobile and electronics policy.
 
"We are also expecting investments of $557 million from Chinese companies in mobile manufacturing," the EDB CEO said, adding that Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) had been signed during PM Sharif's visit to Beijing.

He anticipated that the new policy would also bring investment to the manufacturing of laptops, tablets, watches, trackers and air buds. The government wants to make Pakistan a regional hub of mobile and electronics exports. "The new policy has been framed while looking at this objective," he remarked.

"We are focusing on localisation of mobile phones and electronics," Mansoor said, adding that phone manufacturers had assured the government that they would increase the use of local parts up to 35% in the first year, which would later be pushed to 50%. At present, there is 12% localisation in phone manufacturing.
 
Export levy

The government has planned to impose an export levy of up to 6% in the Mobile and Electronics Manufacturing Framework to generate funds for technology investment. It expects collection of Rs62 billion, which will be used for accelerating localisation in phone manufacturing.

"There will be no export levy on phones costing Rs50,000 to Rs60,000," the CEO said. The levy will be imposed on phones above Rs100,000.
 
Big news for Pakistan’s digital landscape! 🇵🇰

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has confirmed that the #5G spectrum auction is set for March 10. With 597 MHz on the table across multiple bands, this is a major step toward bringing next-gen connectivity to the country.

PTA officials expect the auction to generate between $300 million and $700 million, with existing operators required to secure at least 100 MHz each. The rollout is officially moving forward on schedule.

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Ufone, Zong deposit $30m pre-bid for 5G auction; March 10 set as auction date​

  • Sources say Jazz expected to deposit required amount within a day or so
Tahir Amin
February 24, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Two major telecom operators — Ufone and Zong — have deposited the mandatory pre-bid earnest money of $15 million each with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for participation in the 5G spectrum auction scheduled for March 10, informed sources told Business Recorder.

The deposits, aggregating $30 million, come ahead of the February 27 deadline for submission of earnest money. With three days remaining, industry sources said Jazz is expected to deposit the required amount within a day or so, as it is unlikely to miss the country’s most anticipated spectrum sale.

Under PTA’s Information Memorandum, each prospective bidder is required to submit $15 million as earnest money to qualify for the auction process. The amount is adjustable against the final licence fee for successful bidders.
 
According to the auction framework, the government is eyeing proceeds of over $634 million from the sale, depending on the level of competition and final price discovery during the bidding process.

The regulator has made it clear that the auction would be deemed successful if at least 50% of the total 597 MHz spectrum on offer is sold. This translates into approximately 300 MHz.

Officials indicated that if three operators participate in the bidding, around 300 MHz spectrum would effectively be sold automatically, meeting the minimum success threshold.

PTA officials believe that participation of at least three cellular mobile operators (CMOs) will ensure competitive bidding and strengthen investor confidence in Pakistan’s digital roadmap.
 
The March 10 auction is being closely watched by policymakers, investors and industry stakeholders, as it is expected to lay the foundation for next-generation mobile services, including ultra-high-speed broadband, low-latency applications and enterprise solutions.

With Ufone and Zong already in the race and Jazz expected to follow shortly, the competitive contours of Pakistan’s 5G rollout are fast taking shape — setting the stage for what could be a defining moment for the country’s telecom and digital economy landscape.
 

From Assembly Lines to Export Hubs: Decoding Pakistan’s $2.5bn Electronics Ambition​

Lahore:

For years, Pakistan’s approach to mobile and electronics manufacturing has been trapped in a familiar, low-yield cycle. By importing Completely Knocked Down (CKD) kits and assembling them locally, the industry bypassed heavy import tariffs but failed to build a genuine manufacturing baseline. The newly unveiled Device and Electronics Manufacturing Policy signals a decisive, much-needed break from this "assembly trap," setting a bold $2.5 billion export target for mobile and IT equipment by 2033.

The policy is not merely a statement of intent; it is a highly structured industrial blueprint. By forcing a shift from basic assembly to full-scale manufacturing through a calculated blend of financial incentives and rigid compliance deadlines, Islamabad is betting on tech manufacturing to ease chronic pressure on its foreign exchange reserves.

The Mathematics of the Ambition​

The government's projections are aggressive. Over the next seven years, Pakistan aims to export 21.6 million mobile phones. The trajectory is expected to begin modestly with 160,000 units shipped overseas in 2027, before accelerating to 1.82 million units in 2028, and ultimately peaking at 5.25 million units annually by 2033.

If executed correctly, official estimates suggest export proceeds of $612.69 million in 2033 alone, driving the cumulative seven-year export value to the $2.5 billion mark.

Breaking the Assembly Trap: The "Carrot and Stick" Approach​

The most critical benchmark of the new policy is the mandate to achieve a 50% cumulative domestic value addition by 2033—up from interim targets of 5.3% in 2027 and 23.5% in 2030. To reach this, the government is utilizing a pragmatic enforcement mechanism that mirrors the successful Production Linked Incentive (PLI) models seen in regional competitors like India and Vietnam.

Manufacturers are offered lucrative export performance incentives, but these lifelines are strictly tethered to phased localisation deadlines:

  • Packaging: Must be localized by July 1, 2026.
  • Complex Components: Feature phone displays must be localized within 18 months, and smartphone displays within 30 months.
Crucially, the policy wields a heavy stick: failure to meet these milestones will result in the immediate withdrawal of government incentives. This effectively shifts the financial risk onto the manufacturers, forcing them to deepen local supply chains rather than relying perpetually on imported parts.

To facilitate this transition, the state plans to establish 10 model surface-mounted technology (SMT) and component plants. These facilities are designed to supply printed circuit board assemblies and other critical inputs directly to local manufacturers, bypassing the need for costly imports.

Human Capital and the Green Advantage​

A manufacturing ecosystem is only as strong as its workforce. Recognizing this, a central pillar of the policy is the development of a 75,000-strong skilled labor force by 2033. This human capital is viewed as essential for attracting global smartphone brands seeking reliable, cost-effective production hubs.

Perhaps the most forward-looking aspect of the framework is its environmental mandate. The policy sets a target to increase formal e-waste recycling from 10% in 2027 to a remarkable 70% by 2033. This is a strategic trade enabler. With primary export destinations—particularly the European Union—enforcing stringent circular economy and sustainability standards, this green mandate preemptively aligns Pakistani exports with global compliance frameworks, making them significantly more competitive. Furthermore, recovered rare earth metals and copper from e-waste can be fed back into local SMT plants, further reducing the raw material import bill.

The Road Ahead​

The Device and Electronics Manufacturing Policy offers a credible, structured path out of import reliance. However, the true test will lie in implementation. To reach the $2.5 billion horizon, the government must ensure absolute policy continuity, shield the sector from political volatility, and guarantee uninterrupted energy supplies to the newly planned SMT hubs. If it holds its nerve on the localization deadlines, Pakistan may finally cement its place in the global technology supply chain.
 
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