In an exclusive with Political Uprise News, GSMA’s Asia-Pacific Head Julian Gorman urged Pakistan to act fast on spectrum allocation, warning that delays could derail ambitions for a cashless society, IT export growth, and investor confidence.
A high-level meeting of the Spectrum Advisory Committee was held at the Finance Division under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb. The session brought together senior government representatives, regulators, telecom industry leaders, and the GSMA to deliberate on Pakistan’s spectrum roadmap and digital transformation.
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The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Information Technology & Telecommunication Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Federal Minister for Law and Justice Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, Mr. Julian Gorman, Head of Asia Pacific, GSMA, along with senior officials and representatives of major mobile operators.
Discussions underscored the pivotal role of spectrum in advancing Pakistan’s digital economy, enabling growth in IT services, boosting exports, creating jobs, and expanding digital adoption nationwide. Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb welcomed industry insights and emphasized the urgency of timely progress on the spectrum process to ensure Pakistan captures emerging opportunities for its economy and society.
Ministers Shaza Fatima Khawaja and Azam Nazeer Tarar reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building a digitally connected Pakistan with inclusive, affordable, and high-quality connectivity.
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Speaking exclusively to Political Uprise, Julian Gorman, Head of Asia Pacific at GSMA, confirmed that the industry views spectrum allocation and policy clarity as critical for Pakistan’s digital transformation.
“GSMA highly values the opportunity to present our views, which we also outlined in our recent report. The committee understands the cost to the digital economy and the risks this creates for key national targets such as a cashless society and IT exports,” he said.
Gorman cautioned that without urgent action, Pakistan could struggle to meet its goals for a cashless society, doubling digital transactions, and scaling IT exports.
“This is not just a decision about spectrum allocation this year—it is a decision about what type of digital nation Pakistan wants to be by 2047,” he remarked.
He stressed that the December spectrum allocation timeline is critical not only for telecom operators but also for government credibility and investor confidence.
Gorman outlined three top priorities to accelerate Pakistan’s digital journey. He emphasized the need for spectrum allocation on supportive terms, including reduced reserve prices, payments in local currency, staggered payment options, longer license durations, and incentives to encourage infrastructure investment.
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He also stressed the importance of expanding smartphone access and closing the usage gap, noting that affordable devices are essential to financial inclusion, digital innovation, and the growth of Pakistan’s IT workforce. In addition, he called for simplifying rights of way to ensure telecom infrastructure can be rolled out quickly and efficiently across the country.
He also noted Pakistan must send a strong global signal of seriousness about its digital future:
“After years of missed promises, Pakistan needs a big statement to win back confidence from investors and the digital ecosystem. Korea’s synchronized 5G launch with government backing showed how bold moves can spark innovation. Pakistan now needs its own breakthrough moment.”
Gorman pointed to examples from Vietnam and Bangladesh, which introduced rebates on infrastructure costs and shifted spectrum payments into local currency to attract investment. He emphasized that both Vietnam and India overcame similar obstacles in recent years to emerge as global 5G leaders.
As Pakistan races to finalize spectrum allocation, the GSMA’s recommendations signal that the nation’s digital future will depend on bold reforms, investor-friendly policies, and credible timelines. With the December deadline approaching, the decisions made now could determine whether Pakistan becomes a competitive digital economy by its centenary in 2047 or risks falling behind its regional peers.
