By Staff Reporter
KARACHI: Pakistan will roll out 5G wireless services within months, starting in seven major cities, as the cash-strapped South Asian nation seeks to bolster its digital infrastructure and draw foreign investment through a new defence pact with Saudi Arabia.
Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja announced the timeline at the inauguration of the 26th ITCN Asia Expo in Karachi on Tuesday, highlighting efforts to ensure reliable internet access across the country. The move comes amid concerns over the financial hurdles in transitioning to the faster technology, even as broadband and mobile penetration rises, according to a Pakistan Telecommunication Authority report from last year.
The government plans a spectrum auction by year-end to boost availability from 274 megahertz to 1,000 megahertz, Khawaja said, adding that the process will introduce 5G while prioritizing fixes for IT and internet issues to extend coverage nationwide.
Pakistan’s push into advanced telecoms aligns with broader economic stabilization, with the country shedding fears of default, curbing inflation and steadying macroeconomic indicators, the minister said. “Karachi carries the weight of the country’s economic development,” she remarked.
The initiative dovetails with the recently signed Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, where IT will serve as the “core element” for investment opportunities, Khawaja said.
While centered on defenc, the deal opens avenues for joint ventures, foreign direct investment, oil and gas cooperation, energy projects and IT exports, according to economic experts. It aims to fortify Pakistan’s digital backbone and spur growth, with the tech sector posting 20% annual expansion in recent years.
Internet and data usage climbed 24% over the past two years, while the ranks of freelancers and remote workers doubled in the last year, Khawaja said. The government aims to position Pakistan as a regional data transit hub.
On complaints over sluggish mobile and data services, the minister blamed damage to two submarine cables in the Red Sea near Jeddah, and pledged to expand cable capacity and fiberization for better reliability. Pakistan also fended off recent hacking attempts from India amid tensions, with no government sites breached, she added.
The cabinet has greenlit an artificial intelligence policy, with implementation in progress, and plans to train between 500,000 and 1 million young people in AI and cybersecurity by year-end. “Those who know the right use of technology will replace traditional positions,” Khawaja said, encouraging youth to seize digital opportunities.
Pakistan’s resilience is gaining global notice, with technology rankings advancing under the “Digital Pakistan” drive, she said. The Special Investment Facilitation Council has eased business conditions and lured capital.
IT exports jumped to $691 million in July-August, up $107 million from a year earlier, State Bank of Pakistan data show, underscoring the sector’s momentum despite the PTA’s warnings of a tough 5G shift cited in media reports from December.
Copyright © 2021 Independent Pakistan | All rights reserved
