Pakistan is rolling out a sweeping National Connectivity Plan designed to supercharge the digital economy, bridge the country’s digital divide, and overhaul its internet infrastructure, with a headline target of nearly tripling average fixed broadband speeds.

Under the plan, the government aims to lift Pakistan’s average fixed broadband speed from 30.32 Mbps to 85 Mbps — a near threefold jump that would catapult the country into the top 50 nations globally for broadband performance. Pakistan currently sits at 92nd in world rankings.

The strategy places heavy emphasis on expanding 5G services and Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) networks, while also promising faster and cheaper internet for freelancers and digital professionals. Extending broadband to small cities, rural communities, and remote areas is a core pillar of the initiative.

On the infrastructure front, officials are targeting a dramatic ramp-up in tower fiberization — from the current 16 percent to 60 percent — over the next three years.

The plan also envisions a series of regulatory reforms. Fixed broadband connectivity would become mandatory for all government institutions, schools, and healthcare facilities. To accelerate deployment, the government is weighing tax relief for internet users in remote areas, abolishing Right of Way (RoW) fees, and introducing a one-window approval system for telecom infrastructure.

The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) is fast-tracking the plan’s preparation, with consultations involving all relevant stakeholders already underway. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to finalize the framework at the earliest.

Once implemented, the National Connectivity Plan will introduce a raft of regulatory reforms and clearly delineate the responsibilities of telecom operators, forming the backbone of Pakistan’s long-term digital transformation agenda.