Pakistan’s digital users cross 150 million, says Ahsan Iqbal

Pakistan’s digital landscape is expanding rapidly, with the number of digital users crossing 150 million, Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal said on Tuesday, highlighting the growing role of technology in the country’s economy.

Addressing an Economy Forum in Islamabad, Iqbal said Pakistan had witnessed a significant increase in digital activity over the past two years, with data usage rising by 25 percent during the period.

The minister said the country had also made progress in expanding high-speed connectivity, with the number of fibre connections now exceeding five million.

According to Iqbal, the government is aiming to take wired broadband services to 10 million households as part of efforts to strengthen Pakistan’s digital infrastructure and improve access to reliable internet services.

He said the expansion of connectivity was not limited to infrastructure alone, with the government also focusing on ensuring that more sections of society benefit from the digital economy.

One area highlighted by the minister was the narrowing gender gap in mobile internet usage.

Iqbal said the gender gap in mobile internet use in Pakistan had fallen to 8 percent, while the proportion of women using mobile internet had reached 45 percent.

He stressed that greater participation by women was essential for the country’s digital transformation, arguing that Pakistan could not fully benefit from technological growth without bringing more women into the digital economy.

“Women’s participation in digital development is indispensable,” the minister said, underlining the need to ensure that technological opportunities are accessible across society.

The government’s ambitions, however, extend beyond simply increasing the number of internet users. Iqbal said Pakistan’s next major objective was to move towards producing technology-based goods and services rather than remaining primarily a consumer of digital technologies.

He identified technology products, digital platforms and technology-driven industries as key areas for future growth.

The shift could open new opportunities for startups, freelancers, software developers and technology companies, while potentially creating employment and boosting Pakistan’s digital exports.

Iqbal also said the International Monetary Fund programme running through 2027 should be viewed as the government’s programme, signalling its continued relevance to the country’s economic planning.

Pakistan’s expanding digital user base presents both an opportunity and a challenge. While rising connectivity can support education, commerce, financial inclusion and employment, sustained investment in broadband infrastructure, digital skills and affordable access will be crucial.

With more than 150 million people now using digital services, the government faces the task of turning growing connectivity into broader economic gains. The next phase, Iqbal suggested, will be about transforming Pakistan from a large digital consumer market into a producer of technology and globally competitive digital products.