Pakistan has about 1.8 million 5G users after the technology was introduced in 24 cities, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja told the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecom on Tuesday.
She said the government had held a 5G spectrum auction—an official sale of radio frequencies that mobile operators need to run new networks—to bring the service into the country. She also told the committee that no spectrum auction had been held after former prime minister Nawaz Sharif left office, and that his government had brought in 4G while the current administration had advanced the 5G auction.
Lawmakers question coverage and basic network quality
Committee members raised doubts about moving ahead with faster mobile technology while many users still struggle with ordinary 3G and 4G service. One member said mobile internet had worsened since 5G was introduced. Another said even basic network service was missing in parts of Sindh.
The committee chairman noted that Sukkur is Pakistan’s third-largest city yet has only two 5G sites. Another member said the 5G rollout Pakistan has seen in Sindh has mainly centred on Karachi. The chairman also urged better telecom service in Balochistan, which he called the country’s most underdeveloped province.
Theft, power cuts and rising data demand
Shaza Fatima said she recognised serious challenges for telecom operators. She pointed to infrastructure theft and electricity problems, saying entire towers, generators and diesel supplies were sometimes stolen, disrupting networks. She added that heavier data use driven by social media and artificial intelligence was putting more strain on existing infrastructure.
The minister said the government was working to improve service quality, while operators still face difficulty maintaining equipment in many areas.
Underserved areas and digital plans
Officials told the committee that the Universal Service Fund (USF)—a public fund meant to expand telecom access where commercial investment is weak—is prioritising remote regions. Several USF projects have been finished and others are still under way. Officials confirmed the fund had installed 468 sites across Pakistan over the past two years.
The Director General of the Pakistan Digital Authority, the body set up to regulate digital public infrastructure, said the world was moving quickly toward a digital economy. He outlined three pillars needed to build a digital nation and said such steps could add up to 2% to the economy. The exchange underlined that expanding digital systems must go with better mobile coverage: 5G users in Pakistan now number in the millions in selected cities, yet gaps in reach remain a central concern for the sector.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Pakistan mein ab lagbhag 1.8 million log 5G use kar rahe hain, aur yeh service 24 shehron mein shuru ho chuki hai. National Assembly ki meeting mein IT wazir ne yeh figures bataye. Kuch MNAs ne kaha ke Sindh aur Balochistan mein coverage abhi kamzor hai, aur ordinary 3G/4G bhi kai ilaqon mein theek nahi chalti. Aam user ke liye matlab yeh hai ke 5G kuch shehron mein mil raha hai, lekin har jagah tez aur stable internet abhi guarantee nahi.
