Pakistan Moving Closer to 5G Launch: IT Minister

Minister of State for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja on Monday said Pakistan is getting closer to the launch of 5G as planning and consultations are well underway. Speaking at a ceremony, she said the arrival of 5G would resolve existing internet issues and significantly contribute to economic growth. Pakistan currently operates on a 274 MHz spectrum, but the government recently cleared 550 MHz from legal hurdles after many years. The passage of the Digital Nation Pakistan Bill last month is expected to pave the way for Pakistan to become a digital corridor, similar to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the minister added. The Karachi optical fiber link from China also became operational last month. It is managed by SC and PTCL. IT Minister highlighted that the government aims to achieve $25 billion in exports, with $10 billion coming from the Digital Nation Pakistan Bill and $15 billion from other sources. She urged balancing revenue generation with long-term growth in the upcoming 5G spectrum auction and to ensure the telecom industry can invest in infrastructure. Shaza noted that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has hired a consultant for the 5G rollout, and the government is encouraging private sector investment under its fiberization policy. While acknowledging local regulatory challenges, she expressed hope for more foreign investment in the telecommunications sector. The minister also pointed to Pakistan’s economic turnaround. She said that two and a half years ago, the country was on the verge of default, but today, the economy is growing, markets are stable, inflation has decreased, and GDP is rising. The arrival of 5G in Pakistan will further boost economic activity and drive digital transformation, the minister added.