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Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja speaks to the media on May 18, 2025. — Screengrab via Facebook@ShazaFatimaKhawaja
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ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications Shaza Fatima Khawaja said on Sunday that Pakistan, under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Sherbaz Sharif, has changed the path of sustainable development and the end of the economic elimination of digital change.
Talking to the media, he said that only two years ago, Pakistan faced serious economic challenges, including default, falling exports and low investment. However, he added that the government’s strong efforts have helped improve the overall economic condition.
He added, “The interest rate, which was up to 23 percent, has now increased to 11 percent. Inflation, once by about 40 percent, has dropped from 5 percent.”
He said that exports have increased, and Pakistanis abroad have also sent record remittances due to better planning and teamwork in government agencies. “The government’s strategy not only strengthened the economy but also put us on the path of sustainable development,” he said. On the digital front, the Minister said that Pakistan’s IT exports – including the income of freelancers and IT companies – reached more than $ 3.5 billion between July 2024 and April 2025. Of this, only 3.14 billion IT services were hired in the first 10 months of the financial year.
He said that Pakistan is moving forward towards the vision of ‘Digital Pakistan’, where technology supports the economy and ensures comprehensive development. “Our IT sector’s trade surplus is the highest in all service sectors, with about $ 2.3 billion,” he said.
Despite global challenges such as low demand and trade barriers, Pakistan’s IT sector is growing stronger and more. He supported it for a better economic environment and the Prime Minister’s coordinated policies, especially through the Special Investment Facility Council (SIFC), which promoted investors’ confidence.
He said, a major achievement, the country’s first digital FDI forum, organized in collaboration with the Saudi -based Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO).
The program attracts more than 500 participants, including 100 international investors, global tech CEOs, development leaders, and government officials. More than 100 Pakistani IT companies have offered their products and suggestions. The program ended not only with MUS but with the MILION 700 million signed investment contracts. “These investments will benefit the entire economy in the coming years,” he said.
He thanked the IT, PSEB, PTA, Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, DCO, and especially P -SSHA Chairman Sajjad Syed for their support in making this forum a success.
He added, “The government builds the system and investors’ confidence, and provides the industry. This $ 700 million investment is proof of this partnership.” The Minister said that Pakistan has crossed 200 million mobile users. He said that it gives strong progress toward digital participation, which gives access to all backgrounds – urban and rural, male and women – digital tools.
He highlighted that 8 million women started using mobile internet for the first time in 2024, which participated in a total of 13 million new users. He attributed this success to the government’s gender digital distribution policy, which helped reduce the gap between men and women to reduce the gap between 38 % to 25 %. The use of women’s mobile Internet increased from 33 % to 45 %.
He said that women and young people are the key to the progress of Pakistan, and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has always supported the participation of youth in the development of the country. The Minister praised the efforts of SIFC, PTA, PSEB, Agnet R&D Fund, and the Universal Service Fund (USF), which attached more than 1 million people in more than 900 remote areas last year. As part of the country’s digital connectivity drive, the use of the Internet has increased by more than 25 %, and two new submarine cable projects are also underway.
“These steps are building an affiliated and digital Pakistan, where every citizen will have a digital ID and can access government services through mobile phones – without need to stand in a long queue,” he said.
He congratulated the nation on the recent successful operations of Pakistan’s armed forces. He said the army has bravely responded to the recent threats, which showed professionalism and strength under the leadership of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and the army, the Navy and the Air Force. During the defense operations, he also praised Pakistan’s technical capabilities and said that the country has proved its power to the world. “Through courage, unity and leadership, we have secured both our economy and our national defense,” he said.
