The Government of Pakistan has invited Samsung to establish Pakistan as a regional hub for the manufacturing, refurbishment, and export of mobile phones.

The proposal was discussed during a meeting between Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan and a delegation led by Samsung Pakistan’s Country Head at the Ministry of Commerce.

The minister assured the company of the government's full support for investments that can strengthen exports, increase value addition, and expand the country's industrial base.

He encouraged Samsung to move beyond serving Pakistan’s domestic market and use locally manufactured smartphones to supply emerging international markets, particularly African countries.

According to the minister, Pakistan should position itself as an active participant in global supply chains rather than limiting production to local consumption.The discussion also covered Samsung’s proposal to establish certified mobile phone refurbishment facilities in Pakistan.

The government believes that a regulated refurbishment industry could create new export opportunities for professionally refurbished devices, generate skilled employment, and improve technical capabilities within the country.

During the meeting, Samsung representatives briefed the ministry on the progress of Pakistan’s mobile phone manufacturing sector and the company’s investment in local assembly operations.

However, they also expressed concerns about recent changes in the taxation structure and the reduced tariff difference between Semi Knocked Down (SKD) and Completely Built Unit (CBU) imports, arguing that these changes have weakened the competitiveness of locally manufactured smartphones.The delegation requested that the government maintain a reasonable tariff differential to continue encouraging investment and domestic manufacturing.

They also raised concerns that commercial imports of used mobile phones are undermining local manufacturers despite Pakistan having sufficient production capacity.