5G Launch Planned in Coming Months, Says IT Minister

Federal  Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja said Pakistan will soon launch 5G in seven cities. She made this announcement while speaking at the 26th ITCN Asia Expo in Karachi on Tuesday. The minister shared that the launch will take place in the coming months. However, she also acknowledged challenges in the shift to 5G, including financial hurdles and infrastructure limitations. Despite this, the government is focused on improving internet reliability across the country.

The minister said two damaged submarine cables near Jeddah had slowed mobile and internet services. She assured that steps were being taken to increase cable capacity and improve fiberisation. These efforts aim to provide more stable and fast internet access nationwide. She stressed that her ministry is actively working to avoid such service disruptions in the future. Reliable internet, she added, is essential for a strong digital economy.

Shaza Fatima also said information technology will be a key part of the Pakistan-Saudi agreement recently signed. She explained that this partnership will help grow Pakistan’s digital infrastructure and economy. The minister highlighted that Pakistan is gaining global recognition for its digital resilience. Under the “Digital Pakistan” program, technology rankings are improving and foreign interest is rising.

She noted that Pakistan’s macroeconomic indicators are stabilising, inflation is decreasing, and fears of default are fading. Karachi, she said, plays a major role in the country’s economic development. She praised the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) for improving the ease of doing business. The government is using this momentum to attract investment and expand tech-related opportunities.

Shaza Fatima confirmed that Pakistan had successfully blocked hacking attempts from India during recent tensions. No official websites were compromised during the attacks. She also revealed that an AI policy had been approved and its implementation was in progress. By year-end, up to 1 million young people will be trained in AI and cybersecurity. She urged the youth to embrace digital skills, saying tech-savvy individuals will lead the future.