Used mobile phone import ban could raise prices in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has issued a directive that restricts the import of used mobile phones, allowing only a few shipments under the Mobile and Electronic Devices Manufacturing Policy 2026–33.

This policy has been drawn up by the Engineering Development Board-EDB, with the assistance of domestic producers, and was spearheaded through a conference presided over by SAPM on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan.

The government is committed to providing all infrastructural, technical, and training support for the emergence and development of this industry in Pakistan.

The grant under the Mobile and Electronic Devices Manufacturing Policy would be linked with the local production of parts and their assembly instead of importing them in one go.

The ban on used mobile phones will surely help the home-based producers, increase the number of jobs, and control quality over the whole sector.

The rules for assembling components under the policy have been made clear, there are performance-linked penalties, and the plan for government-run testing laboratories to ensure international standards has been made.

Also, to minimize the under-invoicing of both the imported and locally manufactured mobile phones, these may be brought under the Third Schedule of sales tax.

The ban imposed on imported used/cell mobile phones was presented by the authorities as being in line with Pakistan’s export-oriented growth strategy modeled after countries like India and Vietnam.

The big brands worldwide have expressed their interest in the policy-backed investment.

The officials pointed out that very strict monitoring and control measures would be undertaken, including penalty imposition and license suspension for offenders.

They also admitted that the ban on imports of used mobile phones will not only stabilize but also energize the market for industrial growth in the long run.