Convener of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Regional Committee on Food, Shahid Imran, has called for strategic investment in fifth generation (5G) infrastructure, supportive spectrum policies, and public and private collaboration to accelerate the digital transformation of Pakistan and improve its economic competitiveness. He made the remarks on Sunday in Lahore while inaugurating a modern agricultural farm. According to him, 5G technology offers significant opportunities to modernise agriculture, manufacturing, and logistics, and it can improve productivity across key sectors of the economy, which makes investment in the network an important question for business leaders as well as for the telecom industry.
Speaking about agriculture, Shahid Imran explained that 5G-powered Internet of Things (IoT) sensors can help optimise irrigation and crop management, which can improve agricultural yields in a sector that is vital to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country. He added that high-speed automation and smart supply chains can reduce operational costs and make industry more competitive. Improved connectivity, he said, would also create new opportunities for the freelance and information technology (IT) sectors through remote collaboration and international digital trade, since faster and more dependable connections make it easier for professionals and companies to work with clients and partners in other countries.
He further noted that 5G connectivity could help bridge the divide between urban and rural areas by improving access to telemedicine and remote learning. These services depend on stable connections, and communities that live far from large hospitals and schools can benefit when such links are available. At the same time, he pointed out that expanding 5G services across the country faces major challenges, including high infrastructure costs, foreign exchange constraints, and the extensive fiberisation required, which refers to laying fibre optic cables to connect mobile towers and networks so that they can handle the higher speeds and capacity of 5G.
To overcome these hurdles, Shahid Imran stressed that a favourable regulatory environment, targeted foreign investment, and coordinated efforts between the public and private sectors are essential. He said that these steps would help in building a resilient and technology-driven economy. His comments come from the perspective of the business community, which relies on dependable connectivity for trade, logistics, and exports, and they add to the discussion on how the country can finance the rollout of next generation networks while keeping the policies on spectrum and investment supportive for the companies that are expected to build them.
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