On November 8, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with a delegation from VEON Group, led by Chairman Augie K. Fabela, to discuss the expansion of IT, digitization, and 5G services in Pakistan. The Prime Minister emphasized the government’s commitment to partnering with VEON to promote innovation in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital infrastructure, acknowledging the role of VEON’s subsidiary, Jazz Group, in the country’s telecommunications and fintech industries.

PM Sharif highlighted the government’s ambition to boost IT exports to $25 billion within three years, underscoring the critical role of telecommunications in achieving this target. He also emphasized efforts to extend fast mobile internet to remote regions, with the launch of 5G services being pivotal to realizing the vision of a Digital Pakistan. “With the advent of 5G, we can bring fast and reliable internet services to every corner of Pakistan,” he remarked.

The meeting also addressed the telecom sector’s importance in promoting a cashless and digital economy, which PM Sharif sees as essential to Pakistan’s economic future. The VEON delegation appreciated the government’s economic stabilization efforts and noted that Pakistan has become an increasingly attractive destination for investment in the IT and telecom sectors.

The Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunications, Shaza Fatima Khwaja, the Minister of State for Finance and Revenue, Ali Pervez Malik, and the Prime Minister’s Coordinator, Rana Ehsan Afzal, as well as other senior government officials were also present at the meeting.