KARACHI, PAKISTAN: Samsung Gulf Electronics and Lucky Motor Corporation, subsidiary of Lucky Cement Limited, have signed an agreement for production of Samsung branded mobile devices in Pakistan.

The mobile device production plant is anticipated to be completed by end of December 2021. The amount contemplated to be invested in the production facility and the capacity thereof has not been finalized between Samsung and LMC.

Lucky Motor Corporation (LMC) is currently engaged in the business of manufacturing, assembly, marketing, distribution and sales of Kia and Peugeot branded vehicles, parts and accessories in Pakistan.

LMC has also initiated the process of seeking necessary regulatory approvals to carry on the said business and in this endeavor, has filed an application with Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for securing the license.

The production facility for producing Samsung Mobile Devices will be located at LMC’s existing plant producing vehicles at Bin Qasim Industrial Park.

Local production crossed 25 million mobile devices including 4G smartphones following the successful implementation of PTA’s Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS).

Top mobile manufacturers including Vivo, Oppo, Airlink, Transsion, Inovi, Tecno and G-five, have already received the authorization to manufacture 2G, 3G and 4G devices.

Initially valid for the next 10 years, the manufacturers may also establish their own new brand under the authorization, helping in promotion of ‘Manufactured in Pakistan’ culture.

Pakistan is looking to not only cater to the local demand of mobile phones but to export them to global markets as well, while local manufacturing will be instrumental in providing new job opportunities and low-priced handsets for users.

Pakistan’s total annual market size is estimated at 34 million handsets. Of them, 20 million are 2G and only 14 million are 3G and 4G, collectively. According to the PTA, Pakistan imported 28 million handsets in 2019. Owing to the significant size and continuous growth in mobile connectivity, Pakistan has become the world’s seventh largest handset importer in the world.