Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was informed on Monday that Pakistan’s IT exports are projected to reach between $4.5 billion and $4.6 billion during the current fiscal year. The update was shared during a meeting chaired by the premier to review the performance and progress of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication.
Officials briefed the prime minister that domestic internet connections in the country had increased significantly, rising from 1.9 million in 2024 to 5.1 million in 2026. The meeting was also informed that the recent 5G spectrum auction generated $509 million in revenue.
Under the government’s initiatives to promote artificial intelligence, “Indus AI Week” was organised in February 2025 across 30 cities, featuring 88 pavilions and attracting more than 100 international delegates.
The briefing further highlighted that fibre internet connectivity had been extended to government schools and healthcare units in Islamabad, while free public Wi-Fi hotspots in the capital were nearing completion. E-learning pods are also being installed in Saidpur Model Village and Fatima Jinnah Park.
Speaking during the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that expanding the IT sector and increasing IT exports remained key priorities of the government. He directed authorities to speed up the establishment of Asaan Khidmat Centres in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, while also coordinating with provincial governments to introduce similar facilities nationwide.
The prime minister stressed the importance of reducing the digital divide between urban and rural areas and said Pakistan’s youth had immense potential in the IT industry that must be fully utilised.
