Pakistan to Roll Out 5G Services by Mid-2025, NA Confirms

Pakistanis will have access to 5G services by the middle of this year, the government confirmed during a National Assembly session on Wednesday.

Parliamentary Secretary for Information Technology and Telecommunication Sabheen Ghoury stated that the rollout of 5G is part of a broader initiative to enhance digital infrastructure, which includes the introduction of four new cables and the expansion of optical fiber networks. These efforts aim to provide faster and more reliable internet across the country.

Ghoury also announced the establishment of 250 E-Rozgaar Centers over the next three years under the PSDP project “Prime Minister’s Initiatives-Support for Startups, Specialized IT Trainings and Venture Capital.” The program is expected to support 25,000 freelancers and entrepreneurs, generating approximately $20 million. Fifty of these centers will become operational within the current fiscal year.

Meanwhile, Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain dismissed concerns about the closure of the Utility Stores Corporation, clarifying that the organization would be restructured rather than shut down. He noted that while some stores were opened on political grounds, others remain viable, particularly in remote areas.

Addressing another issue, Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari assured that employees of Power Generation Companies would either be integrated into distribution companies or laid off with full protection of their rights.

The National Assembly also passed a resolution honoring Pakistani women for their contributions to national progress. Moved by Shahida Rehmani on National Women’s Day, the resolution paid tribute to figures such as Fatima Jinnah, Begum Ra’ana Liaquat Ali Khan, and Benazir Bhutto. It reaffirmed a commitment to gender equality and envisioned a future where women in Pakistan can thrive as leaders and innovators.

The House has been adjourned until Friday at 11 a.m.