Pakistan’s Smartphone Financing Plan Faces Delays Ahead of 5G Rollout

Islamabad: Pakistan’s proposed smartphone financing policy, aimed at making 5G-enabled mobile phones affordable for millions of users through easy instalment plans, has reportedly encountered delays as the government awaits responses from key industry stakeholders.

The initiative, designed to allow consumers to purchase expensive smartphones through monthly instalments, has gained urgency following Pakistan’s 5G spectrum auction held on March 10. Industry experts believe the nationwide rollout of 5G services will significantly increase demand for modern smartphones, particularly in remote and underserved regions where digital connectivity is expected to improve.

According to officials in the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), all major telecom operators have publicly expressed support for the proposal. However, some stakeholders have yet to formally submit their responses and recommendations to the government.

Sources familiar with the discussions said Jazz has been one of the strongest advocates of the policy, arguing that affordable instalment plans would help low-income users, students, and non-earning individuals gain access to smartphones and digital services.

Last month, Zong became the third major telecom operator — after Jazz and Ufone — to publicly support the initiative.

Speaking at a recent media workshop, Zong’s Head of Marketing Sajid Munir stated that with the arrival of 5G technology, smartphone financing would play a crucial role in meeting the rising demand for advanced mobile devices.

Despite those public statements, officials told Dawn that both the IT Ministry and PTA are still waiting for Zong’s official policy feedback and documentation.

Responding to media queries, a Zong spokesperson reaffirmed the company’s commitment to the initiative, stating that the telecom operator fully supports industry-wide efforts to improve public access to 5G-enabled smartphones through financing solutions.

“We are working closely with the regulator and industry stakeholders to finalise a framework that is beneficial for customers and the broader industry alike,” the spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, Kazim Mujtaba recently highlighted that the financing plan is not limited to low-income groups alone.

“Several people want to get a 5G-compatible phone set but cannot afford to buy it on cash payment,” he remarked while speaking to journalists.

Kazim Mujtaba also urged the government to launch connectivity projects through the Universal Service Fund (USF) after the rollout of 5G services, particularly to improve internet coverage along Pakistan’s motorway network.

“There is no strong business case for individual telecom companies to independently invest along motorways, but nationwide connectivity can be ensured through USF financing,” he explained.

Industry observers believe the success of the smartphone instalment policy could play a critical role in accelerating Pakistan’s digital transformation by increasing smartphone penetration, improving internet accessibility, and enabling wider adoption of 5G technology across the country.