The federal government is aiming to launch 5G services in Pakistan by the end of the year, but the timeline remains dependent on resolving two major issues: the proposed PTCL-Telenor merger and pending spectrum-related court cases, according to IT Minister Shiza Fatima.
At a recent event, the minister said that Pakistan’s telecom sector is still operating on spectrum last auctioned in 2014, during the tenure of Nawaz Sharif. The government, she added, plans to offer twice the current spectrum capacity in the upcoming auction.
Fatima spoke about ongoing efforts to improve the country’s digital backbone, including satellite internet, wider fibre optic deployment, and a new policy allowing smartphones on instalment plans to make digital access more affordable.
A digital identity framework is also in progress under the Digital Pakistan Act, she said. According to the minister, internet usage has risen by 25 percent, with digital integration contributing to lower inflation and improved governance.
Read More: Pakistan to Roll Out 5G by Mid-Year Amid Financial Hurdles
Highlighting Pakistan’s digital economy, Fatima said IT exports had risen by $1 billion over two years. She noted that freelancers alone had generated $700 million, with the majority being solo contributors.
She added that the government had already distributed 1.2 million laptops, and planned to issue another 100,000 shortly.
The minister also shared details of Pakistan’s AI roadmap, saying one million children would receive training. In the past year, 100,000 individuals were trained under the DigiSkills programme.
On gender inclusion, Fatima stressed the importance of reducing the digital gender divide and ensuring safer digital and physical spaces for women, citing global research from GSMA.
She concluded by saying that seven submarine cables are currently linked to Pakistan, with three more expected this year. By 2025, the world’s largest undersea cable is also expected to connect with the country.