Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Mobile apps accounted for 81 percent of Pakistan’s digital transactions in FY2024–25, as digital payments surpassed Rs. 55 trillion in value. Strong growth was also recorded in Raast payments, card usage, and digital banking, highlighting the country’s accelerating shift toward mobile-led financial services.
Pakistan will host a national AI conference in early 2026 to strengthen its artificial intelligence ecosystem and promote emerging technologies. The event will convene startups, researchers, policymakers, and investors to discuss AI applications, innovation challenges, and responsible adoption across key sectors of the economy.
Engro has acquired over 10,000 telecom towers from Deodar through a $475 million fully Shariah-compliant financing structure. The deal strengthens local ownership of telecom infrastructure and supports cost-efficient shared tower models aligned with Pakistan’s digital growth goals.
Pakistan’s mobile phone manufacturing rose 8 percent year-on-year in November 2025, with local production meeting 93 percent of national demand. Output stabilised after earlier slowdowns, while analysts expect continued growth driven by currency stability, lower inflation, and stronger consumer demand.
Aamir Ibrahim warns that dollar-linked 5G spectrum pricing will delay rollout and increase costs, urging the government to price spectrum in rupees. The telecom industry argues that pragmatic auction design, similar to the PIA privatisation model, is essential to accelerate connectivity, avoid GDP losses, and support Pakistan’s long-term digital growth.
Pakistan’s telecom industry is urging the government to adopt a pragmatic spectrum auction policy that reflects economic realities and prioritises long-term digital growth. With limited spectrum constraining connectivity, operators warn that misaligned pricing could slow investment, cost billions in GDP, and undermine 5G, financial inclusion, and digital transformation goals.
Pakistan’s government plans to auction over 600MHz of telecom spectrum by early February 2026 to ease internet congestion, enable 5G rollout, and attract new operators. The move supports Digital Nation Pakistan and Connect 2030 goals, addressing spectrum shortages that have constrained mobile broadband performance and digital transformation.
Pakistan and the Asian Development Bank have signed $730m in financing to upgrade the national power grid and accelerate state-owned enterprise reforms. The investments aim to improve energy security, enable hydropower integration, and strengthen governance and efficiency across key public institutions.
The PTA has warned that mobile SIM cards must be registered in the name of the actual user, holding registered subscribers fully accountable for misuse. The move supports wider efforts to prevent illegal activities linked to improperly registered SIMs and reinforces mandatory compliance with telecom regulations.
Pakistan’s Telecom Roundtable 2025 brought industry leaders together to assess connectivity challenges, regulatory hurdles, and investment prospects. Discussions highlighted the need for stable infrastructure, policy clarity, and collaboration to unlock broadband growth, digital services exports, and long-term economic development across Pakistan’s evolving digital ecosystem.