Pakistan is moving towards 5G. That is a revolutionary step. However, the way this project has been delayed is a murky area that needs attention with full accountability
The story of these delays goes back almost three decades. In 1995, a company was given a television license, but it only had permission to use spectrum for one year. Instead of following the rules, it went to court and managed to get stay orders that kept it running for years. Even when it had no proper clearance, fresh licenses were issued. Talks to resolve the issue failed because the company kept making unreasonable demands. In 2024, new stay orders were granted, and the matter is still stuck in litigation. This shows how powerful players exploit loopholes while regulators and governments look the other way.
Accountability must be firm and fair so that no individual, group, or institution can hold the country’s future hostage
The real tragedy is that these battles have not only damaged the credibility of our justice system and regulators but have also kept Pakistan behind in technology. While other countries kept moving forward, Pakistan was trapped in disputes that should have been resolved long ago. Justice delayed has become progress denied. The bigger question is accountability. Why were stay orders allowed to drag on for decades? Why did regulators like PEMRA and FAB fail to enforce their own rules? Why did successive governments lack the political will to act? These unanswered questions expose a system where the powerful escape scrutiny and the public pays the price.
The cost of these failures is visible. Pakistan could have been among the early adopters of 5G, but today it is still struggling to catch up.. Consumers suffer because internet quality remains poor. Entire sectors of the economy, from agriculture to education, remain far from the digital transformation they desperately need. And yet, there are signs of hope. Pakistan’s IT exports have grown to 3.8 billion dollars. Freelancers are making a mark worldwide, contributing nearly 700 million dollars. Programs are training hundreds of thousands of young people, with a target of one million, opening doors for jobs and entrepreneurship. Technology parks and co-working spaces are being built to provide opportunities for the youth.
The government is also working on reforms to expand internet access. More submarine cables are being planned, and fiber optic connections are slowly increasing, though still far too limited. Right of way fees are being removed in some areas, and new spectrum is being prepared for auction. Satellite internet is also being opened up, and international companies are being invited to invest. But serious challenges remain. Only 14 percent of mobile towers in Pakistan are connected with fiber, compared to far higher numbers in other countries. Most of our network still runs on outdated 2G, and power shortages create constant problems. Taxes on the telecom sector are among the highest in the region, making it hard for companies to invest in better services. Pakistan has one of the lowest internet tariffs in South Asia, but quality has not kept pace.
The 5G journey itself has been one of missed opportunities. A trial was launched in 2017, an auction was attempted in 2023, and now the government promises a fresh auction by December 2025. If it happens, experts say it could boost the economy, increase exports, attract investment, and create new jobs. But these gains will only come if the auction is handled transparently and without the kind of disputes that have haunted the past.
Pakistan cannot afford to repeat old mistakes. Spectrum is not just a technical issue; it is a national resource. If it remains tied up in legal battles and controlled by vested interests, the dream of a digital Pakistan will remain just that a dream. What is needed now is political will, judicial responsibility, and regulatory strength. The government must ensure that no one is allowed to block progress for personal gain.
Pakistan has the talent, the youth, and the ambition to lead in the digital age. The world will not wait for us. If we want to move forward, we must act now with clarity, courage, and accountability. The journey to 5G can be the turning point, but only if we make it free from the shadows of the past. Pakistan must break free from the culture of elite impunity that has derailed progress for decades. The misuse of stay orders to block national projects has to end. Accountability must be firm and fair so that no individual, group, or institution can hold the country’s future hostage.
The writer is former Director (National Institute of Public Administration); a political analyst; a public policy expert and a published author.