Tecno and Infinix Maker Transsion Plans More Investment in Pakistan, Meets Finance Minister
Transsion, maker of Tecno and Infinix, told the finance minister on 13 November 2026 it plans more investment, local parts making and exports from Pakistan.
Short answer: Transsion Holdings, the Chinese group behind the Tecno, Infinix and itel phone brands, told Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on 13 November 2026 that it plans more investment in Pakistan. It wants to move beyond assembling phones to making parts locally, and to use Pakistan as a base for exports. No amount or timeline was announced.
Founder and Chairman George Zhu led the Transsion team in Islamabad. The company told the minister it is active in Pakistan in smartphones, electric bikes and energy storage. The minister welcomed the plans and asked the company to keep working with government bodies on the next steps.
Transsion's chairman met the finance minister on 13 November
George Zhu, founder and chairman of Transsion Holdings, met Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb in Islamabad on 13 November 2026. They discussed the company's current work in Pakistan, its plans for more investment, deeper local manufacturing and exports. The Finance Ministry released its account the same day.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date | 13 November 2026 |
| Place | Islamabad |
| Government side | Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue |
| Company side | George Zhu, founder and chairman, Transsion Holdings |
| Transsion in Pakistan | Smartphones, electric bikes, energy storage |
| Plan discussed | More investment, local parts making, exports from Pakistan |
| Money or dates announced | None |
The delegation also included Joe Hu, Transsion's Pakistan head, board member Arif Chowdhry, manufacturing head Zakkary Zhou and Eason Zhou, general manager of its manufacturing centre. Tecno's chief executive Aamir Allawala and directors Asif Allawala and Abdullah Allawala attended too.
The company wants to move from assembly to making parts
Transsion said it sees room to go beyond assembly into "greater value addition and component manufacturing". That means making more of each phone's parts in Pakistan instead of importing kits and putting them together. The company also spoke of building supporting industries and local supply chains.
Phones assembled in Pakistan still rely heavily on imported parts. That is why the import bill stays large even with local factories running. Pakistan imported $1.35 billion of mobile phones from January to September 2026, according to the figures in our monthly PBS phone import list.
Transsion brands are already among the bigger local makers of newer phones. In PTA figures up to May 2026, Infinix and Tecno together accounted for 216,560 of the 961,326 5G phones made in Pakistan, about 23%, as listed on our page on 5G phones made in Pakistan.
Pakistan as an export base was the second big topic
Both sides spoke of using Pakistan's factories to serve markets abroad. Transsion called Pakistan a "strategic market", pointing to its large home customer base, location and business setting. The minister said steady economic conditions give investors the confidence to plan for the long term.
Mr Aurangzeb tied the talks to the government's wider goals:
- Keep the economic reform programme on track, so investors can plan ahead.
- Grow through exports rather than imports.
- Add more value inside Pakistan, not only assemble.
- Join global supply chains more closely to become more competitive.
- Keep company and government bodies in regular contact on new investment.
None of these is a new rule. The release does not mention any tax break, duty change or incentive for Transsion or for phone makers in general.
What the meeting means for phone buyers
For buyers, nothing changes today. Tecno and Infinix prices, PTA tax and warranties stay as they are. A meeting about future investment does not change any tax rate or price. Any effect, such as cheaper parts or more local models, would come only after a factory expansion actually happens.
Phone tax is set by law, not by company talks. The finance minister told the National Assembly in October that no further cuts are planned before the next budget, as covered in our report on mobile phone tax under the Finance Act 2026.
- Buying a phone now: current prices for every model are in our Tecno price list and Infinix price list.
- Repairs and warranty: Tecno and Infinix use the Carlcare service network in Pakistan.
- Electric bikes: the release says Transsion is active in e-bikes here, but it named no model or brand, so there is no new product to buy yet.
Common questions
What is Transsion Holdings?
Transsion Holdings is a Chinese group that owns the Tecno, Infinix and itel phone brands. In Pakistan it works in smartphones, electric bikes and energy storage.
Who did Transsion meet in Pakistan?
Its founder and chairman George Zhu met Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb in Islamabad on 13 November 2026.
How much will Transsion invest in Pakistan?
No amount was announced. The company outlined plans for further investment and expansion without figures or dates.
Will Tecno and Infinix phones get cheaper?
Not because of this meeting. No tax, duty or price change was announced. Prices depend on the market and on tax rates set in the Finance Act.
Does Transsion make phones in Pakistan?
Yes. Its brands assemble phones locally, and Infinix and Tecno made 216,560 locally built 5G phones up to May 2026, in PTA figures.
What is component manufacturing?
It means making phone parts, such as chargers, cases or circuit boards, inside Pakistan instead of importing them and only assembling the final phone.
How we verified this
What we checked and where we read it.
We checked the Finance Division release issued through the Press Information Department, PR 162 of 13 November 2026 on the Transsion meeting, on 14 November 2026. Phone import values are from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics monthly trade sheets, set out on our import list. Local 5G output by brand is from PTA figures reported in July 2026. Carlcare as the service network is from the brands' Pakistan support pages, as listed on our service centre page.
About the author
Global Affairs & Political Economy Writer
Muhammad Hatim is a book lover who started writing because he enjoys it. At Pakistan Era he writes about international relations, geopolitics and the global economy, with a particular interest in South Asia and the forces behind current events.
