LAHORE: Select Technologies, a wholly owned subsidiary of Air link Communication Limited is proud to announce the inauguration of its smart phone manufacturing plant for the production of Xiaomi handsets in Pakistan. The event took place on Friday at the factory located in Quaid-e- Azam Industrial Estate, Kot Lakhpat. Airlink group is one of the leading manufacturers, retailers and distributors of smartphones, with nearly all major global brands of the industry as their partners. The company holds approximately 20 percent market share in distribution and is set to enhance its footing by beginning production of Xiaomi handsets. Select Technologies Chief Executive Officer Muzzaffar Hayat Piracha, commenting on this auspicious occasion said, “Our partnership with Xiaomi is a wonderful news not only for the company but also for Pakistan. Xiaomi is a global tech giant and market leader in innovative technology which is not only limited to smartphones. This venture will open many avenues as smartphone manufacturing is the first step towards a bigger goal. My aim is to register Pakistan on the global technological map with a vision of par excellence service delivery and product provision to every nook and corner of Pakistan. We will not only be localizing manufacturing; this will consequentially enhance exports of Pakistan and help us play our role in reducing the import bill.” Companies around the globe consider Pakistan’s mobile market as an emerging market with a plethora of opportunities for businesses. With emergence of 3G/4G technology there has been a significant increase subscriber base of mobile operators. Locking on this opportunity, mobile brands are providing consumers with a wider choice of smartphones at more affordable prices in the low tier range. This initiative is expected to drive a sales volume of $550 million in revenue. The huge production size will not only create new job opportunities for the citizens of Pakistan, but will also contribute to reduction in the country’s import bill and enabling new possibilities in international business.