Pakistan PM, president reaffirm commitment to digital transformation on world telecom day

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding digital connectivity and transforming Pakistan into a regional information technology hub as the country observed May 17 as World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.

In separate messages issued on the occasion, both leaders highlighted the role of digital infrastructure, broadband access and emerging technologies in economic growth, public services and national development.

PM Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan was moving toward a “complete digital revolution” through effective initiatives and was strengthening its position as a global information technology hub with the help of IT and software technology parks, improved infrastructure and a young, tech-savvy workforce.

Referring to this year’s theme, “Digital Lifelines: Strengthening Resilience in a Connected World,” the prime minister said it was fully aligned with Pakistan’s vision of “Digital Nation Pakistan,” which focuses on digital economy, digital society and digital government.

He described the National AI Policy 2025 as a “revolutionary initiative” aimed at developing Pakistan’s artificial intelligence ecosystem and termed the successful 5G spectrum auction a major milestone toward Digital Pakistan.

“The government is committed to the full and accelerated implementation of 5G in the country, the completion of the national fiberization policy and the promotion of local device manufacturing,” he said.

The prime minister said Pakistan’s digital infrastructure now included more than 234,000 kilometers of fiber-optic backbone, six submarine cables, 58,000 cellular towers, and over 20 modern data centers serving more than 205 million subscribers.

He added that Pakistan was rapidly emerging as a regional digital hub in South and Central Asia and was actively participating in the development of the CAREC Digital Corridor.

PM Sharif said the country’s IT exports had reached $3.8 billion annually due to government policies, skill development initiatives and incubation programs.

Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari said the federal and provincial governments remained committed to policies to expand digital access and improve connectivity across the country.

He said reliable and accessible digital networks had become essential for education, healthcare, commerce, banking and public services, particularly for people living in remote and underserved areas.

In his message, the president said Pakistan’s telecommunications sector attracted $838 million in investment during FY2024-25 and generated revenues of Rs1,075 billion.

He noted that Pakistan has over 161 million broadband users, supported by expanding fiber-optic networks, submarine cable systems and nationwide mobile coverage.

Referring to the IMT/5G spectrum auction in March, the president said the process secured $509.6 million for the national treasury and expanded spectrum availability for mobile operators, paving the way for faster and more reliable next-generation services.

He also praised the efforts of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and cellular mobile operators in strengthening the country’s digital ecosystem.

“Reliable and affordable connectivity will remain essential for economic growth, public services and wider access to opportunity for all Pakistanis,” the president said.