Overview
- Officials, who briefed the prime minister Monday, projected $4.5–$4.6 billion in IT exports this fiscal year and said household internet lines rose from 1.9 million in 2024 to 5.10 million in 2026.
- Shehbaz Sharif told authorities to speed up Asaan Khidmat service centers in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir and to work with provinces to expand similar one-stop facilities to shrink the urban–rural digital gap.
- A recent 5G spectrum auction raised $509 million and was described by officials as the largest of its kind since 2016, signaling a shift toward next-generation mobile services.
- In a separate high-level session on exports Monday, the prime minister ordered a roadmap to back small and medium-sized firms and export-facing industries with steps that include prompt tax refunds for exporters.
- Connectivity and skills efforts now in rollout include fiber links to government schools and health units in Islamabad, free public Wi‑Fi close to launch, e‑learning pods at Saidpur Model Village and Fatima Jinnah Park, and February 2025’s Indus AI Week that drew over 100 international delegates.