Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja has received international recognition at the Fast Mode Awards 2026. She has been named Industry Champion of the Year 2026, an honour presented to one industry leader worldwide each year.
The award highlights her role in Pakistan’s technology and telecommunications development. This year’s awards attracted more than 500 company nominations from over 60 countries.
Pakistan’s IT Exports Reach Record High
Pakistan’s growing technology sector played a key role in the recognition. According to figures shared by the Ministry of IT, the country’s IT and IT-enabled services exports reached a record $4.6 billion in fiscal year 2025-26.
The sector also generated a trade surplus of $3.9 billion, the highest among the country’s services sectors. Meanwhile, freelance export earnings climbed to $1.76 billion. Pakistan’s freelancer workforce also exceeded 2.37 million people.
Progress in 5G and Digital Infrastructure
Pakistan also made progress in telecommunications infrastructure during the year.
In March 2026, the country completed its largest-ever 5G and next-generation mobile services spectrum auction. The development increased Pakistan’s total spectrum allocation to approximately 750 MHz.
Furthermore, Pakistan became the first country in Asia to remove right-of-way charges for fibre-optic network expansion. The move aims to support faster development of high-speed internet infrastructure.
Digital Skills and Technology Investment
The government also highlighted developments in digital education and international investment.
Under the DigiSkills programme, more than 4.5 million young people have received free digital training. More than 800,000 participants are women.
Google also registered its operations in Pakistan and opened its first local office in August 2026. A Chromebook assembly line with an annual production capacity of up to 600,000 devices was also established.
Additionally, Pakistan improved its position by 27 places in the International Telecommunication Union’s ICT Development Index 2026.
The award brings international attention to Pakistan’s expanding technology sector. It also highlights ongoing efforts to strengthen digital infrastructure, increase exports and develop a skilled workforce.
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