Caretaker Federal Minister for IT and Telecom Dr Umar Saif has said that the telecom sector is very important for the development of Pakistan's economy.

Addressing the Pakistan Mobile Summit in Islamabad on Monday, the minister said that Pakistan was the seventh-largest telecom market in the world, adding that tax incentives had been given to the mobile phone industry here.

“Licenses have been issued to 35 companies assembling smartphones of different brands. A policy is being formulated to manufacture complete mobile phones while initially producing some parts locally,” he told the audience.

Dr Saif further said that about 90 million mobile phones have been assembled in two years, while about two and a half million mobile phones worth $1.5 million have been exported.

He also said that steps were being taken to increase the export of smartphones manufactured in Pakistan, and added that during the last two months, IT exports from Pakistan had increased by 32%.

“The target of IT export in the next five years is $5 billion,” Dr Saif said, adding that India exports mobile phones worth $10 billion annually.

Also addressing the event, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Major General (retd) Hafeezur Rehman said the authority assured the telecom industry of its full support, adding that they were ready to discuss if any policy hindered the development of the industry.

He further said that the PTA was supporting the mobile phone industry in Pakistan, adding that mobile phones made in Pakistan were also being exported.

Rehman said an advisory committee had been formed for the launch of 5G technology, adding that work was being done on it and they were following the timeline given by the IT Ministry for the launch of 5G.

“5G will launch under terms and conditions that are acceptable to both sides,” the PTA chief said.

He also stressed that the PTA will provide all necessary facilities to the telecom industry, adding that their doors were open for the industry.