Pakistan’s internet speed has increased by 60 percent over the past two and a half years, while the country’s fibre-optic network has doubled, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja said on Tuesday.

Speaking at the Margalla Dialogue, the minister said internet data usage had increased by two terabits per second, taking Pakistan’s total live internet capacity to around seven terabits per second.

She said two new submarine cables had been added to improve international internet connectivity. Fibre-optic connectivity had also expanded from three million to more than six million.

Shaza Fatima said Pakistan had recently completed its largest-ever spectrum auction, offering 480 MHz of spectrum. This increased the country’s total available spectrum from 274 MHz to more than 750 MHz.

She added that 5G services had been introduced in Pakistan, attracting around 1.8 million users so far.

Discussing artificial intelligence, the minister said the technology could become a $4.8 trillion global economy by 2033. She said AI would change the nature of jobs rather than eliminate employment opportunities.

According to the minister, people using AI could become up to 100 times more productive than others with similar skills. She stressed that acquiring digital skills would be important for workers to remain competitive as the technology develops.

She also highlighted the government’s efforts to improve cybersecurity and strengthen Pakistan’s cyber defence capabilities. The government is pursuing its Digital Nation Pakistan vision to expand digital infrastructure and make greater use of emerging technologies.