Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja said on Wednesday that Pakistan’s telecom and digital sectors had shown impressive growth in recent years, making the country one of Asia’s fastest-emerging digital economies.
Speaking at the 26th Meeting of the South Asian Telecommunication Regulators’ Council (SATRC-26), she said Pakistan had achieved key milestones under its Digital Nation Pakistan agenda. “We now have over 200 million mobile subscribers and 150 million broadband users, showing one of the fastest data adoption rates in Asia,” she said.
The minister said that data usage in Pakistan had increased by 70% in the past five years, while telecom revenues grew 17% annually, contributing Rs. 1.5 trillion to the national exchequer. “These figures reflect the strength and resilience of our telecom sector,” she added. Highlighting the expanding digital economy, she said e-commerce in Pakistan had reached $7.7 billion and was expected to exceed $10 billion next year. ICT exports are also rising by nearly 20% each year.
She said Pakistan had made notable progress toward digital governance, with 98% of federal government offices now using e-office systems, making governance largely paperless. Over 50 citizen services were currently available online, and the number would rise to 150 by the end of the financial year.
Shaza Fatima said the State Bank of Pakistan’s RAAST system had built a strong digital payment infrastructure, and the National Data Exchange Layer-developed with NADRA’s support-would launch in December. “This will form the Pakistan Stack, allowing secure data sharing between the public and private sectors and providing citizens with digital identities and lifelong digital services,” she explained.
She said the country’s progress showed its strong policies and commitment to building an inclusive, secure, and innovative digital ecosystem that supports growth and trust.
The minister recalled that soon after taking office, the government launched the Digital Nation Pakistan Plan, a roadmap for digital transformation and inclusion. “Earlier this year, we passed the Digital Nation Pakistan Act, which provides a complete framework for our digital journey,” she said.
Pakistan’s transformation, she said, focuses on three areas – society, government, and economy. “Digital has become a part of everyday life, from meeting basic needs to ensuring national security,” she said.
Under the Connect 2030 Vision, Pakistan aims to increase nationwide internet speed to 100 Mbps, expand fiber connectivity, free up 1,000 MHz of spectrum, and align its 5G rollout with global standards. “These steps could bring billions of dollars in economic benefits over the next four years,” she said.
Shaza said the government’s main goal was to ensure digital inclusion so every citizen could benefit from modern technology, regardless of location. “Digital transformation is about improving people’s lives through better governance, economy, and public services,” she said.
“For us, it’s not just about technology-it’s about trust,” she added. “Only when citizens trust digital systems can we ensure cybersecurity and provide high-quality services.”
She said inclusion, transparency, and efficiency were the key pillars of a digital society. “Going digital ensures no one is left behind, builds trust between government and citizens, and improves governance,” she explained.
The minister said that under the Prime Minister’s leadership, the government was pushing toward a cashless economy. “The Prime Minister personally chairs meetings to reduce cash usage and promote digital payments,” she said.
She mentioned major policy steps such as the Digital Nation Pakistan Act and Right-of-Way reforms, which removed all fees on fiber deployment nationwide. “With one directive from the Prime Minister, Pakistan became a Right-of-Way charge-free country,” she said.
She said the 5G Spectrum Policy was in its final stage and would soon lead to the auction of over 600 MHz spectrum to enhance 3G and 4G services and prepare for 5G.
She added that frameworks for Mobile Virtual Network Operators and infrastructure sharing had been approved, while satellite internet regulations were nearing completion.