ISLAMABAD: In a landmark development for Pakistan’s tech landscape, American tech giant Apple is poised to begin manufacturing iPhones locally. The move comes after the federal government agreed to integrate specific incentives into the newly proposed Mobile and Electronics Manufacturing Framework.
The initiative is expected to transform Pakistan into a regional export hub, with the government projecting $100 million in revenue from the re-export of refurbished iPhones within the first year alone.
“We have included these conditions in the new framework awaiting approval from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif,” stated EDB CEO Hamad Ali Mansoor in an interview with The Express Tribune.
Key Incentives and Framework Requirements
To facilitate Apple’s entry, the Engineering Development Board (EDB) has incorporated three primary conditions requested by the tech giant into the upcoming policy:
- Discounted Land: Provision of industrial land at subsidized rates for plant setup.
- Enhanced Performance Incentives: An increase in the performance incentive from the current 6% to 8% to attract global players.
Refurbishment Model: Permission to repair and refurbish two-to-three-year-old iPhones for re-export, a strategy Apple previously utilized to train local manpower in India, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
