Nokia 8 officially launched in Pakistan as market size increases

Sales of high-end smartphones have increased over 400% in 18 months

KARACHI: The high-end mobile phone market in Pakistan is growing faster than the overall market in the country, an official said on Wednesday, adding that the trend is encouraging many companies to invest in the country.

Pakistan’s expensive mobile set market is approximately 25,000 handsets sold per month, which is four times higher compared with 6,000 mobile sets sold just one and a half year ago, said HMD Global Pakistan Head of Marketing Ammar Ahmed.



Ahmed was speaking on the sidelines of an official launch ceremony of Nokia 8, which is priced at Rs59,900.

The Nokia 8 introduces dual-sight picture and video which is called Bothie. It simultaneously uses the front and rear camera to allow users to enjoy “both sides of the story”. “Be less Selfie, be more Bothie,” said HMD Global Country Head of Pakistan Kamran Khan. Users can go live on Facebook and YouTube using the Dual-Sight video.

Mobile phone users in Pakistan are fast shifting to hi-tech products; of the 24 million mobile sets being imported in a year, almost half are smartphones, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.



Users of high priced handsets look for good after sale services that are initially provided by Samsung and now Nokia is following the trend.

Market experts say Pakistan’s huge population and trend of high growth in high-end mobile sets market means new companies are entering Pakistan. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has issued permission to five mobile companies to set up local assembly line of mobile hardware in the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 14^th, 2017.

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