Business Recorder
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was told on Monday that information technology exports are expected to reach between USD4.5 billion and USD4.6 billion in the current financial year. The figures were presented during a review meeting on IT and telecom affairs chaired by the prime minister. Officials said the number of household internet connections across the country had risen from 1.9 million in 2024 to 5.1 million in 2026. Sharif emphasised that promoting the IT sector and increasing IT-related exports remain top government priorities. READ MORE: Pakistan’s IT exports surge to over $3bn in 9MFY26 He highlighted the potential of the country’s youth in the IT field and called for it to be fully harnessed. The prime minister also directed authorities to expedite the establishment of Easy Service Centres in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir. “Work should also be carried out in coordination with provincial governments to introduce Easy Service facilities across the provinces,” he said. To bridge the digital divide between urban and rural areas, the prime minister stressed the need for support from provincial and district-level administrations. Officials also briefed the prime minister on recent initiatives to promote IT in the country. They noted that the recent 5G spectrum auction, described as the largest in the world since 2016, had generated $509 million in revenue for the country. In addition, Indus AI Week was held in February 2026 to promote artificial intelligence, with events in 30 cities, participation from more than 100 international delegates, and 88 AI “pavilions” set up nationwide. Officials added that fibre connectivity has been provided to government schools and health units in Islamabad, with free internet hotspots in the capital nearing completion. E-learning pods are also being installed in Saidpur Model Village and Fatima Jinnah Park. The meeting was attended by Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazir Tarar, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema, Minister for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima, Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kiani, and other senior officials. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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