Pakistan needs to turn recent progress in telecommunications and digital policy into sustained investment and measurable outcomes if it is to achieve the objectives of Digital Pakistan 2030, GSMA Country Lead for Pakistan Saira Faisal said. In an interview, Faisal highlighted investment capacity, digital inclusion, artificial intelligence readiness, trusted infrastructure and coordination between stakeholders as key areas that will determine the country’s progress over the next four years. Her comments come shortly after GSMA outlined five strategic priorities for Pakistan’s digital development, building on progress in connectivity and policy while identifying areas that require further action. GSMA has said the country has gained momentum in its digital transformation but needs coordinated implementation to translate policy developments into broader economic and social outcomes.
Faisal said maintaining sufficient investment capacity for mobile operators remains an important challenge, particularly as the country moves towards wider 5G deployment and continued network expansion. She noted that recent spectrum reforms, including more flexible payment terms and local currency arrangements, had improved predictability for future investment. According to GSMA analysis cited by Faisal, Pakistan’s mobile sector contributed approximately Rs278 billion in taxes and fees during 2025, equivalent to around 40 per cent of total sector revenues. She said the policy challenge was to balance short term fiscal requirements with the investment needed to expand networks, improve service quality and strengthen infrastructure resilience. Pakistan has also made progress in mobile internet adoption, with 81 per cent of the population covered by mobile broadband, although coverage alone does not guarantee meaningful usage.
The digital usage gap, particularly among women, remains another major area requiring attention. Faisal said affordability, access to suitable devices, digital skills, safety concerns and social norms are increasingly more important barriers than network availability. Literacy and digital skills remain leading obstacles for both men and women, while affordability and social norms have a stronger impact on women. GSMA data shows that 28 per cent of women mobile internet users access services without owning an internet enabled phone, often relying on another person’s device. At the same time, women’s mobile internet adoption increased from 45 per cent to 53 per cent of the adult female population between 2024 and 2025, narrowing the mobile internet gender gap from 25 per cent to 8 per cent. Faisal described the improvement as one of Pakistan’s less recognised digital achievements while noting that a wider usage gap still remains.
Artificial intelligence readiness will also depend on Pakistan strengthening its underlying digital infrastructure rather than treating AI as a separate policy area, Faisal said. She identified high quality connectivity, fibre networks, computing capacity, reliable electricity, cloud infrastructure and data centres as important requirements for supporting AI based public services, digital industries and enterprise innovation. She also called for infrastructure sharing, efficient deployment processes and faster approvals as network requirements become more complex. Alongside infrastructure, Faisal pointed to digital trust as an essential part of the country’s digital economy, with cybersecurity, data governance, online safety, fraud prevention and resilient infrastructure requiring coordinated attention. The Digital Nation Pakistan Act 2025, establishment of the Pakistan Digital Authority and development of a national data governance framework were cited as important steps, but Faisal said stronger coordination and implementation would be necessary to connect these initiatives.
Faisal said coordination between federal institutions, provincial governments, regulators, industry and development partners would be central to delivering Digital Pakistan 2030. She noted that progress can stall between reaching agreement and executing decisions because digital transformation involves multiple institutions and sectors. GSMA’s five priorities therefore include unlocking investment capacity, accelerating digital inclusion, preparing for the AI economy, building trusted digital infrastructure and delivering through stronger collaboration. She said Pakistan’s diverse provinces may require different approaches based on their levels of digital maturity, while common national objectives and greater interoperability should remain in place. Pakistan has stronger foundations than it did several years ago, she said, but the coming years will determine whether this momentum results in sustained investment, broader digital adoption and better outcomes for consumers.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
