Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja said all preparations for the auction would be finalized within the next four to six months. She said the auction would significantly strengthen existing 3G and 4G services and help speed up the launch of 5G in Pakistan in the coming months.

The minister added that the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has already approved the recommendations of the Spectrum Advisory Committee. These recommendations will now be sent to the federal cabinet for final approval.

Shaza Fatima pointed out that Pakistan currently has access to only 274 MHz of telecom spectrum, which is among the lowest levels in the world. She said the shortage of spectrum is a key reason behind slow internet speeds and network congestion, making services weaker than international standards.

Also Read: Pakistan tests its first AI-powered driverless car at NED University

The upcoming auction is expected to improve broadband quality and help meet rising demand for internet access across the country. The minister stressed that consultations with telecom operators and other stakeholders are ongoing to ensure a smooth and effective rollout of 5G services.

She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the Digital Pakistan vision under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Under the upcoming Connect 2030 plan, she said users will receive minimum internet speeds of up to 100 Mbps over the next five years.