Pakistan is about to take a major step in its digital journey. The country will officially enter the 5G era as the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority prepares to issue 5G licenses to telecom operators this week.
The licenses will be handed over at a special ceremony on Thursday. The event will take place at the Prime Minister’s House. Invitations have already reached the leadership of the telecom companies that secured 5G spectrum.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will attend the ceremony as the chief guest. Federal Minister for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja will also join the event. The PTA chairman and other senior officials will remain present during the proceedings.
At the same time, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar are expected to attend. Other cabinet members will also participate in the ceremony, highlighting the government’s focus on digital growth.
According to official sources, each telecom company has submitted a bank guarantee of $15 million. These guarantees secure the newly issued 5G licenses. In addition, operators have already completed the technical groundwork required for the launch.
As soon as the licenses are issued, companies plan to activate 5G services in major cities. Islamabad will be among the first cities to receive coverage. More urban centers are likely to follow in the early rollout phase.
