Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to accelerating its digital economy agenda, using a high-level meeting with VEON Group Chief Executive Officer Kaan Terzioglu at the Prime Minister’s House as an opportunity to reinforce the government’s backing for investors in the telecom and digital sectors. The meeting, which brought together a VEON Group delegation alongside senior Pakistani officials, came on the heels of Pakistan’s landmark 5G spectrum auction, which the Prime Minister described as a sign of progress and a clear statement of direction for the country’s connectivity ambitions.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister noted that all relevant institutions were working closely with telecom operators to ensure improved service delivery following the 5G auction, and stressed that rising interest among young people in telecom and information technology is helping attract international investors. He emphasised that expanding high-quality internet services and promoting digitalisation will enhance transparency and improve overall economic performance, with the country’s youth expected to play a central role in driving growth through active participation in IT and digital platforms.
Kaan Terzioglu appreciated the government’s initiatives under the prime minister’s leadership to advance digitalisation and promote a cashless economy, and expressed his company’s intention to expand investment in Pakistan. The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Ahad Khan Cheema, and JazzWorld Chief Executive Officer Aamir Ibrahim, alongside other senior government officials. The presence of Pakistan’s top economic and technology ministers alongside VEON’s leadership signals the strategic importance both sides attach to the partnership, particularly as Pakistan looks to translate its 5G spectrum investment into tangible economic outcomes through broadband expansion, digital financial inclusion, and the continued growth of its information technology export sector.
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