Islamabad: The government is set to prioritize the expansion of high-speed internet access in small villages and remote areas as part of a proposed National Connectivity Plan, officials announced. The plan aims to bridge the digital divide and provide new economic opportunities, particularly for freelancers and digital entrepreneurs in underserved regions.

According to Press Information Department, the initiative was discussed in a meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema, alongside Minister for IT & Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja and senior officials. The focus was on ensuring affordable, high-speed internet services are accessible to all citizens, enabling full participation in the digital economy.

The meeting emphasized the importance of advancing next-generation fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) networks and 5G infrastructure as drivers of economic growth and digital inclusion. Officials highlighted the existing progress, with 2.8 million FTTH subscriptions and a fiber network spanning 234,000 kilometers.

Federal Minister Ahad Cheema outlined national targets to further this development, including expanding infrastructure to 10 million homes, increasing average broadband speeds to 85 Mbps, and enhancing tower fiberization to 60 percent. The meeting also considered tax relief for internet users in remote areas and discussed strategic reforms to facilitate broadband connectivity and regulatory processes.

The plan’s effective implementation will involve comprehensive stakeholder consultation, prioritizing regulatory reforms, and ensuring financial support is tied to performance milestones, according to Federal Minister Cheema. These measures are deemed essential for accelerating fiber deployment and ensuring the plan’s commercial viability.