Shaza Fatima Khawaja Stresses AI, 5G, and Cybersecurity as Key Drivers of Pakistan’s Economic Growth
Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, stressed the importance of innovations in data networks, artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and 5G for Pakistan’s economic growth and addressing healthcare, education, and development challenges.
Speaking at the SANOG-42 Conference, she emphasized regional cooperation to enhance Pakistan’s digital infrastructure and promote secure, sustainable technologies. Khawaja highlighted government initiatives, including IT parks in Islamabad and Karachi, supporting over 1,300 startups. She also pointed to the upcoming 5G spectrum auction in 2025 and progress in cybersecurity, placing Pakistan among the top nations globally.
“Our Digital Pakistan Policy aims to boost e-governance, cybersecurity, and entrepreneurship,” Khawaja said, adding that these initiatives have helped the IT sector surpass $3 billion in exports. She also mentioned Google’s Chromebook manufacturing and the transformation of Islamabad into a “Model Digital City” as major milestones.
Pakistan’s improved ranking in the 2024 Global Cybersecurity Index was also noted, with Khawaja stating, “This advancement reflects our strong commitment across all cybersecurity pillars, positioning us alongside leading countries in cybersecurity readiness.”
She stressed the importance of training youth in cybersecurity to build a skilled workforce for the future, noting the government’s focus on enhancing access, affordability, and innovation. Khawaja called for regional collaboration, inviting international partnerships to drive growth in Pakistan’s IT sector further.
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