The Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) and Kistpay in collaboration with the Ministry of Information Technology (IT) and Telecommunication here Wednesday launched the ‘Smartphone 4 All’ initiative to facilitate affordable smartphone ownership for low-and middle-income consumers in Pakistan on easy installments.
Addressing the ‘GSMA Smartphone for All’ launching ceremony Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Syed Amin Ul Haque said, “Today, 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 installment-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.”
While appreciating the scheme, he said that alongside smartphones, connectivity is also vital, adding that the Ministry of IT through the Universal Service Fund (USF) launched many connectivity projects across the country.
He said that projects worth Rs 65 billion had been launched in the last four years for providing broadband services in unserved and underserved areas of the country.
He said during the current year 28 different projects have been launched to provide telecom services in different parts of the country.
IT Minister congratulated the Team of Universal Service Fund and its C.E.O Haaris Choudhary on their performance to provide connectivity in un-served and under-served areas of Pakistan.
Syed Amin Ul Haque said that steps are also underway to increase IT exports. Efforts are also on to settle issues in the telecom industry, he said.
He said that the empowerment of youth especially women is the vision of the Ministry of IT. The Minister said that Google finally decided to open its office in Pakistan and has been registered in SECP.
A Google delegation will visit Pakistan in 2nd week of December this year, while TikTok also planned to open an office in Pakistan and Facebook authorities are in contact for the same.—APP
