Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja inaugurated Zong’s new data centre in Islamabad, marking another addition to Pakistan’s expanding digital infrastructure. Senior officials from the Ministry of Information Technology and PTA were present at the ceremony, including PTA Chairman Hafeezur Rehman and Secretary of Information Technology Zarrar Hashim. During the visit, Zong’s Chief Commercial Officer and technical teams briefed the minister on the capabilities of the state of the art facility and its expected impact on improving service delivery, data handling, and operational efficiency across the country’s telecom landscape. Officials shared updates on PTA’s progress in tackling the illegal SIMs issue, highlighting that the authority continues to work diligently to strengthen customer service processes and address public complaints. PTA has also advanced several initiatives in data protection and cybersecurity, including cyber audits, a re verification system, and a structured eco cyber framework.
Minister Fatima commended Zong for its ongoing contributions to Pakistan’s digital ecosystem and praised the company’s commitment to its Connect 2030 roadmap. She stated that the country has significantly improved connectivity over the past year with the addition of three new submarine cables. She also highlighted the elimination of right of way charges, which has eased the expansion of fibre optic infrastructure nationwide. The minister noted that wireless internet penetration now stands at an estimated 98 percent of the population, which positions Pakistan to move forward with the launch of 5G services in the near future. Satellite internet services are also under development and expected to provide expanded access to digital connectivity once fully deployed.
The minister also spoke about China’s longstanding partnership with Pakistan, emphasising its substantial contribution to strengthening the country’s economic and digital foundations through CPEC. She acknowledged that China’s investment of around 60 billion dollars has played a major role in revitalising Pakistan’s infrastructure. She noted that the development of extensive highway and motorway networks was made possible through CPEC’s first phase, while the upcoming second phase will focus on establishing a robust digital corridor. Additionally, she highlighted the collaboration between China Mobile and Pakistan in improving optical fibre connectivity, which enables a more efficient route for data transmission between the two countries and forms a key part of future bilateral digital cooperation.
Zong’s work in establishing AI based cloud infrastructure in Pakistan was described by the minister as a major step forward in the country’s digital transformation. She expressed satisfaction with the progress of the national AI policy and stressed that cloud data centres play a vital role in enabling data localisation. It is expected that AI driven cloud services will become available by mid next year. She also referred to the blockchain agreement with the Higher Education Commission for degree verification, calling it an important development that could significantly streamline the process for graduates seeking timely verification. The concept of immediate online verification, she said, would be a practical achievement and beneficial for young professionals across the country.
She further discussed ongoing work on the Digital Silk Route, a project aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s position within global connectivity networks. According to the minister, the ongoing investments by Zong and other Chinese companies align with the national connectivity plans outlined for the next five years. She affirmed the government’s commitment to supporting these initiatives and noted that recent engagements between the prime minister and Chinese leadership have led to increased support under the Special Investment Facilitation Council. She concluded by stating that with the Connect 2030 roadmap in motion, Pakistan is poised for continued improvements in digital services and connectivity, and the government intends to introduce Smart Cities as part of the long term digital development agenda.
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