Pakistan aims to set up semiconductors zone with China's help: Fawad

[mingle]

@kursed can shed light on conductors

 

[Riz]

In 90s economic super power japan transferred manufacturing of small electric items to Malaysia indonasia and china , i hope China should also move small manufacturing plants to Pakistan to help us economically

 

[kursed]

@kursed can shed light on conductors

The question here is if Pakistan has enough trained manpower to absorb semiconductor manufacturing business from China, at scale - like Vietnam or Indonesia?

 

[Ghessan]

BEIJING:
Pakistan has proposed an ambitious plan to build the semiconductors zone with the help of China, converting the country to self-sufficiency in modern gadgets and opening new avenues for development.

This was stated by Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Fawad Chaudhry in an interview.
He said during the visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan, they discussed the shifting of the semiconductors industry to Pakistan and the role of this technology is very important not only for Pakistan but also for China, China Economic Net reported.
"We want Chinese tech companies to come to Pakistan and make Pakistan a hub of semiconductors manufacturing”, the minister added.

It is to be noted that the Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting also served as Federal Minister for Science and Technology and during that tenure, he signed many memorandum of understandings (MoUs) and agreements on semiconductors technology and also collaborated with China to train Pakistanis in semiconductors' skills.

“We will also like to start semiconductor designing in Pakistan. I’m very happy to tell you that Chinese investors are very keen to join hands with Pakistan and the technology zone will be converted into the semiconductor zone,” he added.
Fawad further said that there is a huge area in science and technology where both countries could cooperate, adding that mobile phones are now assembled in Pakistan but they would like to take a step further and start full-fledged manufacturing of mobile phones in Pakistan.

He said that bilateral cooperation increased in the area of health-related types of equipment, which was also very important, and in the first few months of Covid-19, they were importing everything related to this area but now Pakistan is a major exporter of health material.
“This is a landmark that we have achieved within a short period and now the health sector is open to collaboration. Pakistan has skilled labour, cheaper labour, and a huge market. We hope that Chinese tech companies will join hands with Pakistan to join our technology zone, and we will be able to come up with bigger cooperation in these sectors,” he further said.

He hoped many Chinese technologies companies would come to Pakistan after the visit of PM Imran because semiconductor is a core element of every technology, which would help bring value addition to the local manufacturing products.
It is worth mentioning that during his visit, the prime minister held a series of meetings with leaders of China’s leading technology companies, and both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in software development, information and communication technology, medical diagnostic, and other related sectors.
COMMENTS

Pakistan seeks China’s help to manufacture semiconductors | The Express Tribune

Chaudhry hopes China will join hands with Pakistan due to its cheaper labour, huge market

tribune.com.pk

this would be a giant leap and in right direction. govt must fully backup this sector, it will revolutionize our industrial uplift.

i would say any next govt that comes into power should take this opportunity, knocking at the door, very seriously.

 

[KampfAlwin]

I’m guessing if it happens, Pakistan will use equipment from SMEE?

 

[Ghessan]

The question here is if Pakistan has enough trained manpower to absorb semiconductor manufacturing business from China, at scale - like Vietnam or Indonesia?

a new industry introduced, comes with expertise and skill development.

 

[Surya 1]

So far as semiconductor production is concern, It requires a huge investment, skill manpower pool, lots of water and uninterrupted electricity supply. Rather, Pakistan should focus on PCB manufacturing.

 

[_NOBODY_]

The construction of a single semiconductor fab costs around $10 billion. Having a fab in our country would be a dream come true.

 

[RealNapster]

I hope Pakistan at 100 is a much better and stronger country

Also we should really thank the Chinese here, Semiconductors are no Joke
Most countries don't even touch this subject

There's a reason I am no fan of aziz iqbal types...

I am not much concerned with strong. But I want Pakistan to be clean and green with citizens having sense of ownership and responsibility towards their country. A better traffic situation and rule of law. Baaki sab to hota he rahy ga ..

 

[maverick1977]

The question here is if Pakistan has enough trained manpower to absorb semiconductor manufacturing business from China, at scale - like Vietnam or Indonesia?

Pakistanis are smart people, leading docs and engineers globally, skilled manpower is not a problem, advanced tech know how is..

 

[Trango Towers]

In 90s economic super power japan transferred manufacturing of small electric items to Malaysia indonasia and china , i hope China should also move small manufacturing plants to Pakistan to help us economically

Not help us...countries move industry when their man power source is reduced. China's one child policy has had a crushing impact on labour. Also cost of labour has increased significantly in China. Pakistan has an educated cheap labour force that with training will make billions for China Pakistan and their own families. Its a win win.

No country just helps as many members here think.

 

[Muhammad Saftain Anjum]

First of all thank you China
Second : Thank you IK.

 

[kursed]

Pakistanis are smart people, leading docs and engineers globally, skilled manpower is not a problem, advanced tech know how is..

Skilled manpower is a huge problem in Pakistan. You'd know it, if you were hiring locally.

 

[OIO]

I dont think any pakistani company has the funds or capacity to settup a chip manufactering plant. Most of the investment will be made by Chinese companies.

China is investing hundreds of billions of dollars in chip manufactering. I believe in the next decade China expects to produce more than Taiwan (the current global leader). If Chinese are willing to settup units in Pakistan then why not? Even if we achive 5-10% of taiwans capacity we will be able to supply domestic production plants and have more than enough to exports. Chips are very expensive high value added items.

Pakistan should encourage them with large incentives such as tax free for 10 years, or provide subsidies to such sectors than unproductive sectors. We should aim to have reasonable but growth oriented targets. We cannot become a global tech leader on the scale of China/Korea/Taiwan in 10 years maybe not even 20 years, but is such a thing achievable by 2047 (100 year anniversity of independance) surely it is reasonable.

The semiconductor industry is very large, and it's not just the most advanced processes that people usually focus on.

 

[Enigma SIG]

Fabs usually cost 15-20 billion USD +. That is going to be a hindrance.
Add to the fact that Pakistan doesn't have technical industry to churn out the people that are going to operate these fabs. Seems like a moonshot TBH.