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Govt launches initiative to provide smartphones on instalments

Govt launches initiative to provide smartphones on instalments

Govt launches initiative to provide smartphones on instalments

The ‘Smartphone 4 All’ initiative aims to facilitate affordable smartphone.

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  • The ‘Smartphone 4 All’ initiative aims to facilitate affordable smartphones
  • Mobile phones worth Rs. 10,000 to  100,000 will be given in 3 to 12-month installments
  • IT Minister confirmed that Google has finally decided to open its office in Pakistan
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ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Syed Amin-ul-Haq launched an interest-free installment scheme to buy smartphones.

The ‘Smartphone 4 All’ initiative aims to facilitate affordable smartphone ownership for low-and middle-income consumers in Pakistan in easy installments. The initiative was launched by the IT ministry in a joint collaboration between GSMA and Pakistani start-up KistPay.

He said under the scheme, anyone can obtain a smartphone easily just through CNIC without any lengthy documentation hassle. In the first phase smartphones worth Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 100,000 will be given in 3 to 12-month installments.

Addressing the launching ceremony,  the federal minister said the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication took another concrete step towards achieving the vision of Digital Pakistan.

“With our ‘Smartphone for All’ initiative, we aim to improve the buying ability of marginalized people via instalment-based financing instruments and seek to encourage the digital inclusion of youth, women, and rural communities through early smartphone adoption.”

“Improved access to smartphones is a key priority so that everyone in Pakistan can participate in the digital economy and the socio-economic benefit from increased smartphone penetration can be achieved.”

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The IT Minister said Google finally decided to open its office in Pakistan and has been registered in SECP. A Google delegation will visit Pakistan in second week of December, while TikTok also planned to open office in Pakistan and Facebook authorities are in contact.

GSMA Asia-Pacific (APAC) head Julian Gorman said, “A connected population is the basic ingredient for a Digital Nation from which flows digital economic growth, empowered industry and entrepreneurs and improved livelihoods for every citizen.”

“We must embrace the imperative to get every person enabled with a smartphone and applaud Ministry of IT and Telecommunication and Kistpay for the bold commitment to smartphones for all Pakistan.”

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) chairman Amir Azeem Bajwa lauded efforts for bridging smartphone affordability gap as it is a key barrier to adoption of the mobile internet.

He further said that improved access to smartphones will increase access to information which will create micro-entrepreneurs and reduce poverty.

CEO Kistpay Syed Asif Jafri highlighted the challenges being faced by majority of Pakistanis in gaining access to both smartphones and Shariah Compliant Financing.

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He added that Kistpay will enable many millions of disconnected users for digital and financial inclusion so that they can enjoy the benefits of a digitally connected life.

 

 

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