Karachi: Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja on Tuesday announced that Pakistan will roll out 5G services in the coming months, with the initial launch planned in seven major cities.
Speaking at the inauguration of the 26th ITCN Asia Expo at Expo Centre Karachi, the minister said the government was taking steps to ensure more reliable internet access across the country. She stressed that information technology would serve as a “core element” of the recently signed Pakistan-Saudi agreement, which she said would strengthen Pakistan’s digital infrastructure and accelerate economic growth.
The announcement comes despite concerns highlighted by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in its 2024 annual report, which noted that the country could face financial and technical challenges in transitioning to 5G, even with growing broadband and mobile penetration.
Khawaja also highlighted broader economic progress, stating that fears of default had receded, inflation had eased, and macroeconomic conditions were stabilising. She underscored Karachi’s role in driving the national economy and said Pakistan’s resilience was earning international recognition, with technology rankings improving under the “Digital Pakistan” initiative.
The minister further revealed that the cabinet had approved Pakistan’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy and that work on its implementation was underway. Between 0.5 million to 1 million young people would be trained in AI and cybersecurity by the end of this year, she added.
On internet reliability, Khawaja acknowledged that two damaged submarine cables in the Red Sea near Jeddah had affected services but assured that her ministry was working to expand capacity and increase fiberisation. She also disclosed that Pakistan had recently foiled hacking attempts from India, ensuring no government websites were compromised.
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