Islamabad: At the Pakistan Digital Foreign Direct Investment (DFDI) Forum 2025, the telecom industry urged the government to address several significant challenges hindering the country’s digital progress, including high spectrum prices, limited broadband access, and gaps in digital literacy.
Industry leaders emphasized the urgent need for reforms to move Pakistan toward a Digital Pakistan.
“Structural challenges—such as overpriced and scarce spectrum, digital literacy gaps, and limited broadband access—must be addressed immediately,” said Aamir Ibrahim, CEO of Jazz, during the panel discussion titled “DFDI Landscape: Insights and Actions.”
He stressed that the private sector and NGOs alone cannot solve issues related to broadband expansion, digital banking, and digital education.
“The government must play an enabling role, sometimes intervening and other times stepping back,” he remarked.
Ibrahim was particularly critical of spectrum pricing, stating, “Spectrum is the foundation of broadband connectivity, yet it has historically been mispriced.
The upcoming auction offers an opportunity to correct this and foster digital growth.”
He highlighted that to lead in the digital era, Pakistan must shift from a “whole-of-government” approach to a “whole-of-country” approach, rallying all sectors, stakeholders, and citizens around a shared digital vision.
“Digital investment isn’t just about capital; it’s also about building confidence in Pakistan’s talent and potential,” he added.
He cautioned that Pakistan is already a generation behind in technology, and without embracing Artificial Intelligence (AI), local large language models, data centers, and fast internet, the country risks falling two generations behind.
The panel also featured insights from various sectors, including Samuel Rizk from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Bilal Mahmood from Contour Software, Dermot Corry from Milliman, Naeem Mirza from AI Doctrine Inc, and Rao Mehroz Khan from the Digital Cooperation Organisation.
In a separate session titled “Opportunities for the Telecom Sector in the Digital Era,” Asif Aziz, President of Enterprise Solutions at Jazz, called for a strategic shift in the telecom sector, emphasizing the need to move beyond basic connectivity to create full-scale digital ecosystems for enterprises.
“Pakistan has 197 million mobile connections, but it is now about enabling digital transformation in sectors like healthcare, logistics, manufacturing, and agriculture,” said Aziz.
He also flagged concerns over high spectrum prices, warning that if these prices deter investment in infrastructure, the promise of 5G may remain just that—a promise.
Aziz further highlighted a critical issue of affordability, stating, “While 40% of the population lives within mobile broadband coverage, many still do not use it.
A basic smartphone costs 37–40% of a low-income household’s monthly income, and import duties only make the situation worse. Connectivity without affordability is connectivity in name only.”
Throughout the forum, panelists emphasized the need for bold public-private collaboration, regulatory reforms, and alignment with global best practices.
With a young population and rising demand for innovation, Pakistan has the potential to unlock inclusive digital growth—but only if the right actions are taken now.
