Ahsan Iqbal says rising connectivity, fibre expansion and greater women’s participation can help Pakistan shift from a digital consumer to a technology producer.
Pakistan’s digital user base has crossed 150 million, while data usage has increased by 25% over the past two years, Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal said Tuesday, highlighting the expanding role of technology in the country’s economy.
Addressing an Economy Forum in Islamabad, Iqbal said Pakistan had witnessed significant growth in digital activity and connectivity, with the number of fibre connections now exceeding five million.
He said the government was targeting 10 million households for wired broadband services as part of efforts to strengthen digital infrastructure and improve access to reliable high-speed internet.
The minister said the government’s digital agenda extended beyond expanding infrastructure and was also focused on ensuring that more sections of society benefited from the digital economy.
Iqbal highlighted progress in reducing the gender gap in mobile internet usage. He said the gap had fallen to 8%, while the proportion of women using mobile internet had reached 45%.
“Women’s participation in digital development is indispensable,” Iqbal said, stressing the importance of ensuring that technological opportunities were accessible across society.
He said Pakistan could not fully benefit from technological growth without greater participation by women in the digital economy.
According to Iqbal, the government’s next major objective is to move beyond being primarily a consumer of digital technologies and develop the capacity to produce technology-based goods and services.
He identified technology products, digital platforms and technology-driven industries as key areas for future economic growth.
Such a shift could create opportunities for startups, freelancers, software developers and technology companies, while supporting employment and potentially increasing Pakistan’s digital exports.
Iqbal also said the International Monetary Fund programme running through 2027 should be viewed as the government’s programme, underscoring its continued relevance to economic planning.
Pakistan’s expanding digital user base presents significant opportunities for education, commerce, financial inclusion and employment. However, sustaining this growth will require continued investment in broadband infrastructure, digital skills and affordable access to internet services.
With more than 150 million digital users, the government’s challenge now extends beyond expanding connectivity. The focus is increasingly shifting toward converting Pakistan’s growing digital market into a stronger technology-production base capable of developing digital products and services for domestic and international markets.
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