Pakistan is set to significantly enhance its digital infrastructure, with plans to extend fiber-optic connectivity to 7.5 million households and achieve 80 percent fiber-to-the-site (FTTS) coverage within the next five years, the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication (MoITT) announced.
These objectives are part of the upcoming National Fiberization Policy, which is being developed under the Digital Economy Enhancement Project (DEEP). The initiative aims to strengthen the country’s fixed broadband infrastructure and increase the national average download speed to 60 Mbps.
A dedicated Project Management Unit (PMU) is being established to oversee the development of the policy. Once in place, the PMU will recruit a consultancy firm through a competitive bidding process to help finalize the policy framework.
The policy is designed to prepare Pakistan for emerging technologies such as 5G and the Internet of Things (IoT), ensuring the country has the robust digital infrastructure necessary for future growth. It focuses on encouraging private sector investment and addressing long-standing challenges in deployment by streamlining approval processes, rationalizing right-of-way (RoW) charges, and promoting infrastructure sharing.
Currently, Pakistan has over 211,000 kilometers of deployed optical fiber, consisting of 75,967 km of long-haul and 135,506 km of metro fiber. However, officials acknowledge that this infrastructure is not sufficient to meet the growing demand for digital services and future technological needs.
The Telecom Wing of MoITT is leading the development of the policy in collaboration with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and industry stakeholders. Upcoming consultations will focus on developing cost-sharing models and establishing a single-window clearance system.
The policy also supports broader economic goals by promoting local manufacturing of fiber-optic components to reduce reliance on imports.
The final draft of the National Fiberization Policy is expected to be completed by the end of the year, laying the groundwork for a digitally connected and future-ready Pakistan.
