Pakistan is preparing to launch its first 5G services in 2026, with the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) tasked by the prime minister to auction 5G spectrum by February.
The PTA has warned that high taxes on telecom components—including 19.5 percent duties on imported parts—are driving up device costs and could slow the adoption of 5G-enabled phones.
Currently, only about five percent of mobile devices in Pakistan support 5G, making affordability a key barrier. The regulator urges tax cuts to help people buy compatible devices.
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As 5G rolls out, Pakistan expects major technological advances: e-SIMs, NFC-based e-banking with barcodes, nano-banking, and wireless charging are all poised to become more widespread.
To support this transition, local manufacturers are producing roughly 1.2 million smartphones and 1.5 million feature phones each month—about 30 million devices annually. Lower tax burdens could accelerate this production.
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Furthermore, the PTA notes that about 40 percent of mobile users still rely on feature phones, and nearly 10 percent of the population has no phone. Making 5G devices cheaper now could expand mobile and digital service access across Pakistan.