ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja has said that Pakistan’s internet speed has increased by 60% over the past two and a half years, while the country’s fibre-optic network has doubled in size.
Addressing the Margalla Dialogue, Shaza Fatima said Pakistan’s total live internet capacity had reached approximately 7 terabits per second. She added that two new submarine internet cables had been introduced to strengthen the country’s international connectivity.
The minister said the number of fibre-optic connections had increased from 3 million to more than 6 million. She also highlighted Pakistan’s largest-ever spectrum auction, which offered 480 MHz of spectrum and raised the country’s total available spectrum from 274 MHz to more than 750 MHz.
According to Shaza Fatima, 5G services have also been launched in Pakistan, with approximately 1.8 million users already benefiting from the technology.
Speaking about artificial intelligence (AI), the minister said the global AI economy could reach $4.8 trillion by 2033. She noted that AI was expected to transform the nature of jobs rather than eliminate them.
She further stated that people using AI could become up to 100 times more productive than others with similar skills.
Emphasising the importance of digital skills, Shaza Fatima urged people to acquire modern technological expertise to remain competitive in an increasingly digital world.
She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to advancing the Digital Nation Pakistan vision and further strengthening the country’s digital infrastructure.
