Pakistan is preparing a policy to allow citizens to purchase smartphones on instalments as part of efforts to expand access to digital services, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja said on Thursday.

 

Speaking at an event in Islamabad where additional telecom spectrum was released to operators, the minister said that the government was working on a framework that would enable people to obtain smart mobile devices through instalment plans.

 

“Pakistan will soon have a policy to have smart mobile devices on instalments,” she said. “This will help the spread of smart phones among all segments of the society.”

 

Fatima also said that a growing number of mobile phones used in Pakistan are now assembled or manufactured within the country, pointing to changes in the local mobile device sector.

 

She said that internet access had become essential in Pakistan and noted that additional infrastructure had recently been added to support connectivity.

 

“Internet is a basic need of Pakistan today and three new submarine cables have landed in Pakistan increasing the availability of internet,” the minister said.

 

The remarks came during a ceremony where 480 MHz of spectrum was released to three telecom operators, increasing the country’s total available spectrum to more than 7,500 MHz. According to the minister, the move will expand network capacity.

 

“Our capacity has now increased three times,” she said, adding that preparations for next-generation connectivity were already under way.

 

“5G pilot launch will start in major cities from next week,” Fatima said. 

 

The allocation of frequency slots took place at the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and was attended by senior management from Jazz, Ufone and Zong.

 

According to officials present at the event, the telecom companies acknowledged the transparency of the spectrum auction process and said testing of 5G services had already started in several locations.

 

She also said that the government was working to establish an AI Council that would bring together professionals to help shape policy on artificial intelligence. She added that the initiative forms part of broader government efforts aimed at strengthening the country’s digital economy and promoting work in emerging technologies.

 

Addressing taxation on mobile phones, the minister said the IT ministry and the telecom regulator had advocated reducing taxes on mobile devices. However, she said decisions on such taxes are made by the Federal Board of Revenue.