Policy being framed to promote indigenous solar panels manufacturing.

Engineering Development Board (EDB) is in process of formulating a Solar Panel Manufacturing Policy to promote local production and meet power needs, rapidly increasing with each passing year.

The solar panel manufacturing policy would be linked with national solar energy policy being prepared by Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy Task Force.

The glass and aluminium frames used for solar panels can easily be manufactured in Pakistan owing to strong presence of this allied industry within the country.

As per official information, the demand for solar panels is soaring and there was a need to promote manufacturing at a local level to help promote industry and save precious foreign exchange.

Apart from above policy, the Board is also in process of formulating Agricultural Implements Manufacturing Policy and Steel and Petrochemicals.

Meanwhile, when contacted official sources on Monday said in order to establish new industries, meet local demand and increase production of export quality goods, EDB/Ministry of Industries and Production have also framed Mobile Device Manufacturing Policy and Auto Industry Development and Export Policy (2021-26) including incentives for Electric Vehicles.

Under Mobile Device Manufacturing Policy, 30 mobile manufacturers have been issued licenses to start local manufacturing of mobile devices by setting up local facility while under Auto Development Policy (2016-21), a number of new manufacturers have established manufacturing/assembling of new brands of vehicles.

The sources said around 11 new EV manufacturers in 2-3 wheelers (electric bikes and rikshaws) have invested. The policy offers various incentives to these manufacturers in taxes and duties etc.

Moreover, the sources said Green Field Technology was another initiative for both import substitution and export enhancement. Under this scheme, different incentives in terms of taxes and duties...