Iqbal sets $1tr digital goal for 2035

Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday outlined a transformative digital roadmap aimed at propelling Pakistan into a $1 trillion economy by 2035 under the national vision Uraan Pakistan, according to a statement issued on Tuesday. Addressing high-level delegates from Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states at the 2026 SCO Digital Economy Forum in Urumqi, the minister announced unprecedented growth in Pakistan's digital connectivity, highlighting a user base that has rapidly surged past 150 million consumers alongside a 25% jump in data consumption over the last two years. Iqbal said that to support the nation's rapid digital transition, Pakistan is executing a massive broadband expansion, scaling fibre-optic connections from three million to over five million, with an immediate target to bring high-speed wired broadband to 10 million households. The minister said this expansion coincides with a record-breaking performance in the technology sector, with Pakistan's information technology (IT) and information and communication technology (ICT) exports reaching an all-time high of $4.6 billion in the last fiscal year. "Pakistan is fundamentally shifting its tech strategy," stated the planning minister. "We are moving beyond exporting traditional IT services toward developing proprietary tech products, building robust digital platforms, and fostering tech-driven manufacturing. The digital economy is not merely a sector for us – it is the engine of comprehensive economic transformation." Emphasising that sustainable development relies on equity, the minister shared critical milestones in empowering Pakistani women through mobile access. Female mobile internet usage rose significantly from 33% to 45%, while overall digital gender divide collapsed from 35% down to just 8%. "A digital transformation that leaves women behind is neither economically viable nor socially just," Iqbal asserted, reaffirming Pakistan's commitment to inclusive tech policies.