Information Technology and Telecommunications Shaza Fatima Khawaja said on Tuesday that Pakistan will start 5G services in the coming months, starting with seven major cities.
Addressing the inauguration of the 26th ITCN Asia Expo at the Expo Center Karachi, the Minister acknowledged the challenges of introducing 5G but said that steps were being taken to improve access to the national Internet. The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority has given remarks in its 2024 annual report that it will be difficult to transfer the country to 5G despite the growing use of the broadband.
Khawaja highlighted the financial tension of adoption of the next generation technology, but insisted that digital development is a priority. He pointed to the recent agreement with Saudi Arabia, calling information technology as its “core factor”, so as to strengthen Pakistan’s digital infrastructure and pursue economic growth.
The Minister also linked the digital progress with a wider economic improvement, noteing that Pakistan has raised the pre -default concerns of the past, softening inflation and the economic indicators of economic indications. “Karachi has lifted the country’s economic development,” he said, adding that Pakistan’s flexibility has gained internationally under the “digital Pakistan” move.
He emphasized the role of the Special Investment Facility Council in improving the climate of investment and confirmed that the federal cabinet had approved Pakistan’s first artificial intelligence policy. He said that work is underway for training between 500,000 and one million youths in AI and CyberScureti by the end of the year. Khawaja added, “Those who know the proper use of technology will replace traditional positions.”
On concerns about faulty mobile and data services, it explained that two submarine cables recently had a bone bone in the Pacific Ocean near Jeddah, which removed the contact. He said the government was working to enhance the capacity and fiber of the submarine cable to improve the reliability.
Khawaja further revealed that Pakistan has successfully stopped recent hacking efforts from India during a period of tension, ensuring that no government website has been compromised.