ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said the launch of 5G spectrum marked a major milestone for Pakistan, benefiting sectors, including agriculture, technology and industry.
Addressing the signing ceremony of license agreements for the 5G spectrum, he said the auction was conducted in a transparent manner despite legal challenges.
He appreciated the efforts of Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar, who fully cooperated to remove the legal hurdles in the process.
He said transactions such as divestment of Pakistan International Airlines were also carried out with transparency, setting new precedents in the country’s history.
The prime minister congratulated telecom companies, including Jazz, Zong and Ufone on successfully acquiring spectrum, with Jazz securing the largest share.
He also congratulated Chinese officials associated with Zong and reiterated that Pakistan-China friendship would continue to grow stronger.
He expressed the hope that 5G technology would expand to all parts of the country, including urban and rural areas, and emphasized the need to move swiftly to enable youth to benefit from modern technological advancements.
Speaking on the occasion, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecom (IT&T) Shaza Fatima Khawaja said Pakistan had conducted the world’s largest spectrum auction, positioning itself as a regional leader in the telecom sector. The minister said 480 MHz of additional spectrum had been added, increasing the total available spectrum from 274 MHz and marking a significant leap for the country’s telecommunications industry.
She added that the limited spectrum in recent years had strained network performance.
“I have always said that we are running an eight-lane vehicle on a two-lane road, resulting in poor internet experience and widespread consumer and industry complaints.
“With this addition, Pakistan has not only improved its capacity but also conducted what has been described as the world’s largest spectrum auction, making the country a regional leader,” she said.
The minister further said that, following the auction, the responsibility shifted to telecom operators, including Zong, Ufone and Jazz, to meet quality-of-service and rollout obligations and ensure improved connectivity nationwide.
Highlighting the government’s vision, she credited the prime minister for prioritising digital transformation early on. She recalled initiatives such as e-learning centres, e-libraries, e-employment and e-facilitation centres in Punjab as foundational steps toward building a digital economy.
Shaza said the successful auction was the result of coordinated efforts among multiple stakeholders, including the finance ministry, advisory committees, technical teams, international consultants and the private sector, ensuring transparency and efficiency throughout the process.
Recalling earlier milestones, she said Pakistan’s telecom journey had been strengthened with the introduction of 3G and 4G services during the tenure of former prime minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, noting that these steps helped prevent the country from lagging behind in technological advancement.
Looking ahead, she expressed confidence that 5G services would be introduced in the coming months, alongside further improvements in 4G coverage, ushering in a new era of digital connectivity and economic growth.
