Pakistan sets June 2027 target to bring Apple into mobile industry

Islamabad: Pakistan has stepped up efforts to bring Apple into the country’s mobile manufacturing sector, with the government hoping the technology giant could establish its presence here by June 30, 2027.

The development was discussed during the 24th meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication chaired by Syed Amin ul Haq at Parliament House.

A government official told the committee that they are making strong efforts to bring Apple to Pakistan and that a meeting with Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook is scheduled during the Prime Minister’s upcoming visit to the United States. The purpose of the meeting is to invite the company to invest in Pakistan.

The official said Pakistan was looking at the model Apple used in Indonesia, where the company first built an ecosystem by working on old devices before moving towards wider manufacturing activities. Under the proposed approach, Apple could initially start refurbishing old iPhones in Pakistan and spend around two years developing local suppliers and supporting businesses before moving toward larger-scale production.

The government is also linking the plan with the country’s large mobile phone market. Officials told the committee that Pakistan has around 40 million mobile phone buyers, making the country an important potential market for the company.

A major issue discussed at the meeting was the high price of iPhones in Pakistan. A committee member pointed out that imported smartphones have become too expensive for ordinary consumers because of high taxes and duties.

The government official said the proposed National Tariff Policy could place a maximum tariff of 15 percent on imported items. According to the briefing, imported phones currently face a cost and freight tax rate of around 50 to 60 percent. The proposed reduction could significantly lower the cost of imported iPhones if approved and implemented.

The committee was also told that a private company has brought an official Apple store to Pakistan. Officials said this has improved the position of iPhone users regarding warranty services, which previously faced difficulties due to the lack of an official Apple presence.

The push for Apple comes as Pakistan continues efforts to increase local mobile manufacturing. Officials said 37 companies, including Samsung and Nokia, are already involved in local manufacturing or assembly activities.

During the meeting, the committee chairman questioned why Apple could not also come to Pakistan when other major brands were already operating in the country.

Officials said Pakistan is developing the technical base needed for more advanced mobile manufacturing. They told the committee that local companies have started assembling seven-layer printed circuit boards, while high-end smartphones such as iPhones and Samsung Galaxy devices use highly complex boards with several layers.

The committee was also told that cheaper Android smartphones are currently much more accessible to Pakistani consumers. Officials said locally assembled Chinese smartphones can cost around $200 to $250, or about Rs50,000 to Rs60,000, while iPhones generally start at much higher prices.

The government hopes that attracting Apple would not only increase investment but also strengthen the country’s local technology industry, supplier network and advanced mobile manufacturing capacity.

The proposed Apple entry is still dependent on policy decisions, negotiations and the company’s own investment plans. The June 30, 2027 date was presented as a government target rather than a confirmed Apple commitment.