Govt announces iPhones in installments for Pakistanis

Islamabad: The caretaker government Monday announced the launch of an installment plan for iPhones to the public, which will start from January 12, 2024.

According to the details, Caretaker Federal Minister for Information Technology Umar Saif released details of collaboration with telecom stakeholders to launch an initiative on January 12, 2024.

Announcing the plan, Dr. Umar Saif said that the program will enable customers to get latest model phones through easy installments.

The caretaker federal minister stated that iPhones will also be included in this offer.

He further said that Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) will implement Device Identification, Registration, and Blocking Systems (DIRBS) to block handsets in case of failure to pay installments.

The minister clarified that the main objective of this policy is to promote responsible financial behavior and ensure continuous expansion of smartphone penetration in the country.

The telecom companies are ready to play an important role by providing smartphones directly to consumers through installment plans, thereby extending the benefits of mobile broadband especially to the lower income groups, he added.

It is pertinent to note that the federal minister Umar Saif had earlier made this announcement in October 2023.

At that time, he had said that many people in Pakistan use phones, but they are cheap phones, because it is not within everyone's capacity to buy a phone worth Rs80,000, Rs200,000 or Rs300,000 at once.