Pakistan ke digital challenges: 5G Internet delay, Infrastructure Issues

Summary:

Asian Development Bank (ADB) ki nai report ne Pakistan ke digital sector ki bohot si kamzoriyaan highlight ki hain—5G rollout ki delay, low broadband access aur infrastructure investment ki kami. Report ka kehna hai ke Pakistan digital transformation mein regional aur global competitors se kaafi peeche reh gaya hai.

Pakistan ki Digital Sector Mein Gehra Buhran

Pakistan’s digital sector faces critical challenges
ADB ki fresh report ne yeh wazeh kiya ke Pakistan ka digital ecosystem structural issues aur policy delays ka shikaar hai. Political instability aur inconsistent policymaking ki wajah se Pakistan digital race mein peeche reh gaya hai, jabke doosre countries aggressively 5G aur fibre-optic network expand kar rahe hain.

5G Abhi Tak Launch Nahi Hua

5G remains on hold in Pakistan as global rollout accelerates
Report ke mutabiq, duniya ke 101 mulk 5G commercial services launch kar chuke hain, magar Pakistan ab tak 5G spectrum auction bhi nahi kar saka. Is waqt tak government ne 3G spectrum par bhi koi investment nahi ki, jo stagnation ko aur ziada highlight karta hai.

Heavy Taxes, Slow Investment

Pakistan’s telecom market among most taxed in the region
Pakistan mein telecom sector heavily taxed hai, jo investment aur affordability dono ko discourage karta hai. Telecom sector ki value ab $4.52 billion hai, aur 2029 tak $5.32 billion tak barhne ka estimate hai—lekin infrastructure aur fibre optic network ki investment ki kami is growth ko risk mein dal rahi hai.

Digital Divide aur Gender Disparities

Digital access disparities widen, especially for women
Mobile phone access to hai—86% mard aur 53% khawateen ke paas—but internet access sirf 33% khawateen aur 53% mardon tak mehdoood hai. Yeh digital divide rural aur low-income communities mein aur bhi ziada hai. Affordable devices aur reliable connectivity ki kami unhein digital duniya se kaat rahi hai.

Broadband Penetration Bohot Kam

Fixed broadband at just 1.3%, among the region’s lowest
Report ke mutabiq, Pakistan ka fixed broadband penetration sirf 1.3% hai, jo South Asia ke mukable mein sab se low hai. Iska matlab yeh hai ke millions log ab bhi slow ya no connectivity ka shikaar hain.

Urgent Reforms Ki Zarurat

Policy change and investment needed for inclusive growth
ADB ne recommend kiya ke urgent policy reforms, large-scale fibre optic expansion, aur digital inclusion strategies zaroori hain taake Pakistan ki digital growth inclusive ho. Agar aisa nahi hua, to millions log is transformation ka hissa nahi ban sakenge.