The Econ-omic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet which is scheduled to meet on Wednesday (May 20) will approve the country's first mobile device manufacturing policy, as some amendments have been made to the policy in consultation with stakeholders.
The sources said, Ministry of Industries and Production has decided not to touch the issue of used mobile import as influential parties are in this business. The MoI&P on the recommendation of Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom has included withdrawal of 4 percent Regulatory Duty on local sales in the policy.
On May 13, 2020, during discussion on Mobile Device Policy, the Prime Minister's Advisor on Institutional Reforms and Austerity Measures, Dr. Ishrat Hussain appreciated the proposed policy and hoped that this can prove a great incentive/initiative for export diversification. He was of the view that these concessions should create an environment of competition amongst local manufacturers and between the local manufacturers and importers. He further stated that the successful implementation of this policy would increase Pakistani exports, reduce the import bill and greatly facilitate a flourishing local mobile industry.
The EDB/MoI&P has been prepared with objectives of technology acquisition and localization of mobile devices through local investment, Joint Ventures, Foreign Direct Investment etc, creation of 200,000 direct and indirect jobs, price reduction for consumers, increase in digitization through supporting 4G/5G technologies, development of efficient manufacturing eco-system, exports of competitively manufactured handsets and achievement of security objectives.
Other items of the ECC agenda are as follows; (i) revised incentives package under Special Economic Zones(SEZs); (ii) declaration of multi modal transit Hub Jia Bagga NLC Transit Port as Customs Clearance Port under Section 9 of the Customs Act, 1969; (iii) Prime Minister's Covid-19 Pandemic Relief Fund -2020;(iv) Review of ECC decision in case ECC- 363/33/ 2019 of November 13, 2019; (v) technical supplementary grant of Rs 3,836,760,000 in favour of Housing & Works/Pak PWD; and (vi) supplementary grant amounting to Rs 537.706 million in favour of Ministry of Housing and Works/PWD.
The ECC may also review its earlier decision of cotton support price on the instructions of the federal cabinet.
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