ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja on Wednesday announced that Pakistan’s 5G Spectrum Policy is in its final stage, with an auction for over 600 MHz of spectrum expected soon. The move aims to enhance the country’s 3G and 4G infrastructure while paving the way for the launch of 5G services.
Speaking at the 26th Meeting of the South Asian Telecommunication Regulators’ Council (SATRC-26) in Islamabad, the minister highlighted major achievements under the Digital Nation Pakistan agenda.
“We now have over 200 million mobile subscribers and 150 million broadband users — one of the fastest data adoption rates in Asia,” she said.
She noted that data usage in Pakistan has risen 70% in the last five years, while telecom revenues grew 17% annually, contributing Rs1.5 trillion to the national exchequer.
The minister said the e-commerce market had reached $7.7 billion, expected to exceed $10 billion next year, while ICT exports were growing nearly 20% annually.
Digital Transformation Milestones
Khawaja said Pakistan had made “major progress” in digital governance, with 98% of federal offices now using e-office systems, making government operations largely paperless. Over 50 citizen services are available online, with plans to increase the number to 150 by year’s end.
She also mentioned that the State Bank’s Raast system had strengthened digital payments, and that the National Data Exchange Layer (NDEL) — developed with NADRA’s support — will launch in December.
“This will form the Pakistan Stack, enabling secure data sharing and providing citizens with digital identities and lifelong digital services,” she explained.
5G Roadmap and Policy Reforms
Under the Connect 2030 Vision, Pakistan aims to:
- Raise average internet speeds to 100 Mbps
- Expand fiber connectivity nationwide
- Free up 1,000 MHz of spectrum
- Align its 5G rollout with global standards
These initiatives, the minister said, are expected to generate billions of dollars in economic benefits over the next four years.
She also highlighted policy measures such as the Digital Nation Pakistan Act and Right-of-Way reforms, which eliminated all fees on fiber deployment nationwide.
“With one directive from the Prime Minister, Pakistan became a Right-of-Way charge-free country,” she added.
Expanding Digital Inclusion
The government, she said, is finalizing a Smartphones for All Policy to improve device accessibility. About 100,000 laptops are distributed annually to students, and Google’s Chromebook assembly in Pakistan marks a new milestone in local tech manufacturing.
Frameworks for Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) and infrastructure sharing have been approved, while satellite internet regulations are nearing completion to boost rural connectivity.
The SATRC conference, hosted by Pakistan, will review progress under SATRC Action Plan 9 and define priorities for Plan 10, focusing on spectrum harmonisation, cross-border connectivity, cybersecurity, and innovation.
“Our goal is to make Pakistan a regional leader in digital transformation, innovation, and connectivity,” Shaza Fatima Khawaja concluded.
