Overview
- The Engineering Development Board finalized and publicly unveiled the policy framework, which the Ministry of Industries will now submit to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for approval.
- Sources report proposals for a 20% federal excise duty on completely built new mobile phone imports, plus customs duties on notebooks, desktops, tablets and certain CKD structures, subject to formal adoption.
- The framework outlines a refurbishment-for-re-export regime in export processing zones with bonded facilities, IMEI blocking and time-bound re-export to prevent diversion into the domestic market.
- EDB projects $300 million to $400 million in annual revenues from re-exports of refurbished mobile phones under the proposed regime.
- Plans include a Rs56 billion technology investment fund, invitations to global firms such as Apple and Samsung to establish plants in Pakistan, and a dedicated Mobile and Electronics Devices Cell within the EDB to coordinate implementation.