Ministry of IT to launch “Smartphone for All” project on easy installments: Dr. Umar Saif
Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) Additional Secretary Aisha Humera Chaudhry said that the government is all set to launch a landmark project ‘optical fibre’ to improve broadband connectivity and to boost deployment of digital infrastructure across the country.
She Talking to PTV official said that the government and telecom companies would strengthen urban and remote areas with high-speed broadband connectivity, adding, that all available resources and facilities were being provided for the digital gateway initiative.
Aisha Humera Chaudhry said that the government was striving hard to ensure the availability of affordable high-speed Internet service to the citizens, particularly the students, and for that purpose, it was focusing on laying ‘optical fibre’ across the country.
She further mentioned that the Ministry of IT and Telecom is fully cooperating with the telecom industry.
Replying to a query, she highlighted that said that the provision of broadband services to the residents of the Un-served and under-served areas of Pakistan is as much needed as for the big cities.
Secretary said By increasing the optical fibre cable, the connectivity will be faster, and better internet facilities will be provided to the users.
To another question about the E-rozgar program, she explained that the government has been setting up 10,000 ‘e-Rozgar centres’ across the country to provide workspace for the country’s budding freelancing community, announced the interim minister for IT and Telecom.
The government will provide interest-free loans to the private sector to convert real estate into co-working spaces i.e. e-Rozgar centres, she added.
Smartphones through easy installments
Ministry of IT is set to launch the “Smartphone for All” project, allowing individuals to acquire smartphones through easy installments.
Ministry is concurrently establishing a research and development fund to support mobile phone manufacturing companies and facilitate the growth of the mobile phone manufacturing sector.
Regarding the “Smartphone for All” project, he explained that in the event of failure to pay installments, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) would block the handset following the pattern of the Device Identification, Registration, and Blocking System (DIRBS).
The minister said that the objective is to encourage responsible financial behaviour and ensure the continued expansion of smartphone accessibility.
Under this policy, he said that telecom companies will have the opportunity to directly offer smartphones to customers through installment plans, thereby extending the advantages of mobile broadband, particularly among the low-income segments in Pakistan.
Dr Umar Saif said that Pakistan ranks as the seventh major mobile phone market globally, with 190 million mobile phones in use.
He expressed the government’s goal to reduce mobile phone imports by promoting the manufacturing of affordable and high-quality mobile phones within Pakistan.
