Earlier today, Pakistan’s Air Link Communication Limited announced that it will begin production of Xiaomi handsets next month. This is a welcoming development as it will earn Pakistan a sales revenue of $550 million per year.
Air Link made the announcement in a notice to Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). In the notice, Air Link informed that it will hold the inauguration ceremony of the Mobile Device Manufacturing Facility for the production of Xiaomi handsets in Pakistan on March 4, 2022 at Quaid-e-Azam Industrial Estate, Kot Lakhpat, Lahore.
Last year, the world’s second-largest mobile manufacturer Xiaomi partnered with Airlink Communications to manufacture smartphones in Pakistan. It appears that Pakistan will begin production of Xiaomi phones from next month.
Read more: Xiaomi to start its smartphone manufacturing in Pakistan
“The initiative is expected to generate a sales volume of $550 million per year while creating thousands of jobs in Pakistan,” Air Link said.
“This production facility is a step forward in the direction of PM’s vision of ‘Make in Pakistan’. It will have a huge impact on Pakistan’s economy, resulting in the export of locally produced Xiaomi mobile phones,” it further added.
#PSXUpdate – AIRLINK in a notification informed that the inauguration of its Mobile Device Manufacturing Facility for the production of Xiaomi handsets in Pakistan is planned to be held on March 04, 2022.#Pakistan #KSE100 #PSX #PakistanStockExchange #StockMarket pic.twitter.com/8VqRppJpsY
— Capital Stake (@CapitalStake) February 28, 2022
Pakistan locally manufactures smartphones
Ever since the PTI government launched its ‘Make-in-Pakistan’ initiative, the country has witnessed a surge in locally manufactured mobile phones. Tecno, Infinix, Itel, Oppo, Vivo, Realme, Nokia, and Samsung are the top brands producing smartphones in Pakistan. As a result, Pakistan produced 18 million mobile phones in the first ten months of 2021.
Federal Minister Hammad Azhar also revealed last month that Pakistan assembles around 70 percent of smartphones. Moreover, earlier today, the Adviser to Prime Minister of Pakistan for Commerce and Investment congratulated Realme for locally producing mobile phones.
Read more: Samsung shows off first locally assembled phone in Pakistan
“I would like to congratulate RealMe mobiles which have started producing mobiles locally at their unit in Lahore. This has not only created employment but has also decreased the cost of their locally made smartphones,” Abdul Razzak tweeted.
I would like to congratulate RealMe mobiles which has started producing mobiles locally at their unit in Lahore. This has not only created employment but it has also decreased the cost of their locally made smartphones. 1/2
— Abdul Razak Dawood (@razak_dawood) February 28, 2022
Locally producing smartphones has indeed benefitted Pakistan. Last month, Samsung slashed its prices for locally assembled phones. The next target for Pakistan is to begin exporting phones.