Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja held a high level meeting with senior leadership from Etisalat International and Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited to review ongoing reforms and infrastructure development across Pakistan telecom sector. The meeting brought together Mr Khalifa Alshamsi, Chief Executive Officer of Etisalat International, and Mr Hatem Bamatraf, Chief Executive Officer of PTCL, as part of continued engagement between the government and major industry stakeholders to strengthen network capacity, service quality, and digital readiness nationwide.
During the discussions, participants reviewed progress related to the proposed PTCL and Telenor merger and the broader process of sector consolidation. The minister was briefed on current developments surrounding regulatory reviews and operational considerations linked to the transaction, which is expected to reshape competitive dynamics in the telecom market. Officials discussed how consolidation could support more efficient use of resources, improve service delivery, and create scale for long term infrastructure investment. The conversation also covered preparations for the upcoming spectrum auction, with an emphasis on ensuring that adequate spectrum availability supports growing data demand and enhances network performance across urban and underserved areas.
Another key area of focus was the acceleration of nationwide fiberization, including progress on tower fiberization targets. The meeting examined how expanding fibre infrastructure can improve backhaul capacity, reduce network congestion, and support higher data speeds for mobile and fixed broadband users. Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja stressed the importance of coordinated efforts between operators and policymakers to remove bottlenecks and enable faster rollout of fibre networks. Discussions also highlighted the need to improve overall network quality and service reliability, particularly as consumer reliance on digital services continues to increase across education, commerce, healthcare, and government platforms.
The role of PTCL in supporting Pakistan digital growth through advanced infrastructure was another major topic. The meeting reviewed PTCL expanding footprint in data centre services, with a specific focus on AI enabled facilities that can support emerging use cases in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and enterprise digital transformation. Participants discussed how local data centre capacity can enhance data sovereignty, reduce latency, and provide scalable infrastructure for startups, enterprises, and public sector organizations. Strengthening domestic capabilities in this area was positioned as a critical component of building a resilient digital ecosystem that can support innovation and investment.
Government representatives reiterated that the engagement reflects a broader commitment to building a high quality and future ready telecom infrastructure. Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja emphasized that reforms in policy, spectrum management, and infrastructure development are being aligned to create a stable and investor friendly environment. By working closely with operators such as PTCL and its parent group Etisalat International, the government aims to ensure that network expansion keeps pace with demand while maintaining service standards and affordability for consumers.
The meeting underscored the shared objective of advancing Pakistan digital transformation through collaboration between the public and private sectors. Strengthening telecom infrastructure, improving network performance, and expanding capabilities in fibre and data centres were discussed as essential building blocks for supporting economic activity and digital inclusion. As reforms continue and major initiatives such as spectrum auctions and sector consolidation move forward, the government signaled its intention to remain engaged with industry leaders to address challenges and support sustainable growth across the telecom landscape.
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