Federal Minister for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja met with Kaan Terzioglu, CEO VEON, to discuss Pakistan’s expanding digital ecosystem and the importance of international telecom partners in supporting national connectivity objectives. The meeting centered on the country’s need for advanced digital infrastructure that can accommodate rising data usage, regional traffic demands and emerging technology requirements. The minister and the VEON chief talked about priority areas where strategic investment could help accelerate high speed connectivity while strengthening the overall reliability of Pakistan’s networks.
During the discussion, both sides reviewed potential pathways for building new regional fiber corridors that can support long term demand for bandwidth and improve redundancy across critical routes. The conversation also included plans linked to submarine cable expansion, which is essential for enhancing Pakistan’s global internet capacity. Increasing international bandwidth is becoming a requirement as usage patterns shift toward cloud services, video streaming, digital platforms and enterprise applications. The minister highlighted that collaboration in these areas would not only improve overall service quality but also contribute to economic activity driven by digital trade and cross border data flows. VEON’s experience in global connectivity was noted as an important factor for enabling more resilient infrastructure across Pakistan.
Shaza Fatima Khawaja emphasized the government’s intention to fast track the ADP backed national fiber rollout to ensure that underserved regions gain better access to high capacity networks. Expanding domestic fiber reach remains a key priority for improving household and enterprise connectivity. The minister outlined that an integrated approach involving international partners can help accelerate deployment timelines and reduce infrastructure gaps. As Pakistan continues to experience a surge in data traffic, expanding fiber depth across provinces is seen as critical to sustaining network growth and supporting emerging technology adoption in the public and private sectors.
The meeting also explored Pakistan’s rising demand for cloud services, data centers and AI powered solutions as organizations move toward more digital operations. Shaza Fatima noted that sectors including industry, services and government departments are increasingly dependent on scalable cloud environments and localized data storage. She added that Pakistan is preparing for a future ready 5G rollout that will require strong backhaul infrastructure, enhanced spectrum planning and investment in advanced technologies. VEON’s leadership acknowledged these priorities and discussed how global expertise could contribute to Pakistan’s transition toward next generation networks. The dialogue reinforced the shared interest in creating a more connected Pakistan supported by fiber, international capacity and modern digital services.
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