The federal government has decided to introduce a comprehensive policy to promote local manufacturing of signal boosters, dongles and biometric machines and various electronic devices including mobile phones, laptops, while it is proposed to provide tax exemption on raw materials used in the manufacture of electronic devices.

Sources say that the federal government has prepared a Made in Pakistan policy to reduce the import bill of electronic devices and mobile phones, but its implementation is delayed due to non-approval of the policy.

Sources say that under the Made in Pakistan policy, various electronic devices including mobile phones, laptops will be manufactured in Pakistan, while local manufacturing of signal boosters, dongles and biometric machines is also part of the policy.

The policy includes a proposal to provide tax exemption on raw materials used in the manufacture of electronic devices, while a levy of up to 5 percent has also been proposed on imported electronic goods.

POS machines, tracker systems and smartwatches are also proposed to be manufactured in Pakistan. This move will ensure data security and save the government millions of dollars. Electronic devices worth more than $422.3 million are imported into Pakistan annually.