Home internet connections in Pakistan tripled in two years, major progress in IT sector

A review meeting of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif in which a detailed briefing was given on the country’s digital development. The figures revealed in the meeting are quite encouraging. The number of home internet connections across the country was 1.9 million in 2024, which has increased to 5.10 million in 2026, i.e., an almost three-fold increase in just two years, which is an important step in the journey of Digital Pakistan.

Regarding IT exports, it was reported that Pakistan is expected to export IT worth $4.5 to $4.6 billion in the current fiscal year, which is becoming an important source of foreign exchange for the country. There has also been great success on the 5G front. The recent 5G spectrum auction was declared the largest auction not only in Pakistan but also in the world after 2016, and the government earned a revenue of $509 million.

In February 2026, Indus AI Week was organized to promote Artificial Intelligence, with events held in 30 cities and attended by over 100 international delegates. 88 poles were also created on this occasion, which will train the youth in AI. Fiber connectivity has been provided to government schools and health centers in Islamabad and the work of providing free internet hot spots in the city is in the final stages. E-Learning Pods are also being installed in Saidpur Model Village and Fatima Jinnah Park.

The Prime Minister directed in the meeting that the work of setting up Asan Khidmat Markazes in Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir should be expedited and steps should be taken in collaboration with the provincial governments to reduce the digital gap between urban and rural areas. He said that Pakistani youth have immense potential in IT and harnessing it to its fullest is the top priority of the government.