Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and the Gilgit-Baltistan government have agreed to step up efforts to address internet connectivity issues and improve digital infrastructure across the region. The commitment came during a meeting chaired by Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Amjad Hussain, where Pakistan Telecommunication Authority Chairman Major General Hafeez Ur Rehman briefed officials on ongoing and planned initiatives aimed at expanding reliable internet and telecommunications services in the region.
The authority’s chairman said several projects are currently underway to provide residents with stable, high quality internet connectivity while strengthening the broader telecommunications infrastructure across Gilgit-Baltistan. Chief Minister Amjad Hussain said the region’s status as one of Pakistan’s leading tourist destinations makes reliable, high speed internet essential, adding that improved digital connectivity would help promote tourism, support e-governance, facilitate businesses, attract investment, and contribute to economic growth and higher government revenues for the region.
The chief minister also pointed to persistent electricity shortages as a major cause of internet disruptions in Gilgit-Baltistan and urged internet service providers operating in the region to install effective backup power systems to ensure uninterrupted services during outages. Electricity related connectivity issues have been a longstanding challenge in mountainous regions of Pakistan, where power infrastructure often lags behind more developed urban centers, making backup systems particularly important for maintaining consistent internet access.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority chairman assured the provincial government of full cooperation and said a detailed meeting involving all relevant stakeholders would soon be held to finalize practical and sustainable solutions for improving internet services in the region. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening digital infrastructure to support tourism, education, healthcare, trade, public services, and overall socio economic development across Gilgit-Baltistan, signaling continued coordination between the federal regulator and provincial authorities on closing connectivity gaps in the region.
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