Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is preparing for an Apple CEO meeting during his upcoming visit to the United States. The meeting with Apple chief John Ternus will reportedly focus on bringing the tech giant to Pakistan. Officials shared this update on Thursday during a briefing to the National Assembly’s IT committee.
The Engineering Development Board’s CEO said the meeting could take place when the premier visits Washington. He also added that the visit is expected in the coming months as part of wider high-profile talks.
According to the EDB chief, Pakistan currently has 37 companies making mobile phones locally. These firms have produced more than 35 million handsets so far.
However, Apple remains the only major smartphone maker without local manufacturing in Pakistan. Officials are therefore working to bring assembly or manufacturing operations to the country.
The EDB CEO added that the proposed Apple CEO meeting could support this outreach effort. A successful outcome would mark a major milestone for the local electronics industry.
Meanwhile, the committee chairman welcomed the recent growth in mobile-phone manufacturing. Still, he stressed that domestic production needs to expand further. He said locally made phones must remain affordable and meet strong quality standards.
The chairman also called for more focus on 4G and 5G handsets. Additionally, he wants manufacturers to move away from older 3G technology. Finally, he said stronger local production would benefit Pakistan’s wider digital economy.
The EDB CEO noted that Apple’s entry would strengthen investor confidence in Pakistan’s tech sector. Local manufacturers have also expanded rapidly over the past few years, according to committee members. Industry insiders say Apple’s arrival could also create new jobs across the supply chain.
The government has been actively courting global tech firms as part of its broader industrial policy. Pakistan’s mobile phone sector has grown steadily since local assembly rules took effect. Analysts believe a confirmed meeting between the premier and Apple’s CEO would send a strong signal to other global brands.
