Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was told on Monday that Pakistan’s information technology exports were expected to reach $4.5 billion to $4.6bn, according to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

The development came as the premier chaired meeting to review the affairs of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication.

During the meeting, the premier was told that the number of domestic internet connections had increased from 1.9 million in 2024 to 5.1m in 2026. He was also told that IT exports were expected to reach between $4.5bn-$4.6bn during the current fiscal year, the PMO said.

Further, the premier was told that the recent 5G spectrum auction had generated $509m dollars in revenue.

The meeting was also told that, under efforts to promote artificial intelligence, “Indus AI Week” was organised in February 2025 across 30 cities, attracting over 100 international delegates and featuring 88 pavilions.

The meeting was told that fibre connectivity had been provided to government schools and health units in Islamabad, and the provision of free internet hotspots in the capital was in its final stages. It was also informed that e-learning pods were being installed in Saidpur Model Village and Fatima Jinnah Park, the PMO statement said.

In his remarks, PM Shehbaz said that promoting the IT sector and increasing IT-related exports remained among the government’s top priorities.

He directed that work on establishing Asaan Khidmat Centres in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir be expedited. He said that efforts should also be made in coordination with provincial governments to introduce the same facilities.

The prime minister said that cooperation from provincial and district-level governments should be sought to reduce the digital gap between urban and rural areas in the IT sector.

Pakistan’s youth possess immense potential in the IT sector, which must be “fully utilised”, he said.