KARACHI: Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja announced that Pakistan will launch 5G services in the coming months, starting with seven major cities.
Speaking at the inauguration of the 26th ITCN Asia Expo at the Expo Centre Karachi, she said the government is taking steps to improve internet reliability across the country.
The minister highlighted that information technology would be a key part of the recently signed Pakistan-Saudi digital cooperation agreement, which aims to strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure and boost economic growth.
However, a Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) report released in December 2024 had warned that Pakistan may face challenges in shifting to 5G despite the rising use of broadband and mobile services. Financial hurdles remain a major concern for this transition.
Khawaja said Pakistan’s economy is stabilizing, with inflation down and the threat of default behind it. “Karachi is the backbone of Pakistan’s economic development,” she remarked. She added that Pakistan is gaining global recognition for its resilience, while technology rankings are improving under the Digital Pakistan initiative.
ALSO READ
Pakistani embassy in Abu Dhabi opens renovated NADRA hall
The minister credited the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) for improving the ease of doing business and attracting foreign investment. She also revealed that the cabinet had approved Pakistan’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy, under which 500,000 to 1 million youth will be trained in AI and cybersecurity by the end of this year.
“Those who understand technology will replace traditional roles,” she said, urging young people to make good use of their time and benefit from opportunities in the digital age.
Addressing complaints about poor mobile and internet services, Khawaja explained that two submarine cables were recently damaged in the Red Sea near Jeddah, affecting connectivity. She assured that the ministry is working to expand submarine cable capacity and increase fiberisation to improve service reliability.
She further revealed that Pakistan successfully foiled hacking attempts from India during a recent conflict, ensuring no government websites were compromised.
