Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif recently chaired a high-level review meeting in Islamabad. The session focused directly on the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT). During the briefing, officials presented significant industry milestones to the Prime Minister. Consequently, the government projects Pakistan’s IT exports will hit between $4.5 billion and $4.6 billion USD during the current fiscal year. Promoting the tech sector and scaling these exports currently stand as absolute top priorities for the state.
5G Auction & Connectivity Boom Drive IT Exports
Recently, Pakistan successfully executed a massive auction for 5G services. Notably, officials cited this event as the world’s largest 5G auction since 2016. This strategic bidding process generated a substantial $509 million USD in revenue for the country. Furthermore, domestic internet penetration has skyrocketed. Across the nation, household internet connections surged from just 1.9 million in 2024 to an impressive 5.10 million in 2026.
Pakistan’s youth possess immense capability within the digital landscape. Therefore, the Prime Minister strictly directed authorities to fully utilize this demographic advantage. He ordered the rapid acceleration of “Asaan Khidmat” (Easy Service) centers in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir. Moreover, he instructed federal officials to collaborate directly with provincial governments. This coordination aims to launch these tech-facilitation centers across all provinces. Ultimately, the Prime Minister demanded active provincial and district-level cooperation to eliminate the digital divide between urban and rural areas.
AI Promotion & Localized Infrastructure
Artificial intelligence adoption is also accelerating. Earlier this year, in February 2026, the government organized the Indus AI Week to promote artificial intelligence. This major initiative spanned 30 cities. Specifically, it featured 88 pavilions and successfully drew over 100 international delegates.
Meanwhile, physical tech infrastructure is heavily expanding. Public schools and health units in Islamabad now possess dedicated fiber connectivity. Additionally, the deployment of free internet hotspots across the capital is currently in its final stages. Similarly, authorities are actively installing modern E-learning pods at Fatima Jinnah Park and Saidpur Model Village.
The strategic review meeting included Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Azam Nazeer Tarar, Ahad Khan Cheema, Shaza Fatima, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kiyani, and other relevant senior officials.
