The meeting was briefed on a number of measures taken to promote IT across the country.
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan is expected to achieve IT exports worth between $4.5 billion and $4.6 billion in the current fiscal year, the Prime Minister’s Office said on Monday as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a review meeting on the affairs of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT).
The Prime Minister reiterated that promotion of the IT sector and growth of IT-related exports remain among the government’s top priorities. “There is immense potential among the youth of Pakistan in IT, which should be harnessed to the fullest,” he said.
He also directed that work be expedited to establish Easy Services centers in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and called for efforts to launch Easy Services facilities in the provinces in collaboration with the provincial governments. He further urged the cooperation of provincial and district governments to bridge the IT gap between urban and rural areas.
The meeting reported on a number of measures taken to promote IT across the country. The number of domestic Internet connections increased from 1.9 million in 2024 to 5.10 million in 2026, according to the PMO.
Regarding Fifth Generation (5G) services, the report revealed that an auction was recently held in the country and was the world’s largest in this regard since 2016, generating revenue of $509 million for Pakistan.
On promoting artificial intelligence (AI) in Pakistan, the meeting was informed that Indus AI Week was organized in February 2025, with events held in 30 cities, participation of more than 100 international delegates and setting up of 88 pavilions.
At the meeting it was also reported that fiber connectivity has been provided to public schools and health units in the Federal Capital. The provision of free internet hotspots in Islamabad is also in its final stages, with the installation of e-learning modules at Saidpur Model Village and Fatima Jinnah Park.
The review meeting was attended by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Law and Justice Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Khan Cheema, IT and Telecom Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja and State Minister for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani along with other senior government officials.
The Prime Minister on Monday emphasized that export-led industrial growth was essential to achieving the country’s economic development goals and reiterated that the government was fully focused on enhancing exports and providing facilities and support to industries.
The prime minister chaired a high-level meeting to review strategies to increase Pakistan’s exports and strengthen the country’s export-oriented industries.
The prime minister directed relevant authorities to formulate a comprehensive plan to facilitate small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which played a crucial role in boosting exports.
He also called for developing strategies to promote new businesses and industries that could contribute to increasing the country’s export volume, the Prime Minister’s Office Media Wing said in a statement.
