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ISLAMABAD, Nov 21 (APP):Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, participated in the 24th CAREC Ministerial Conference held under the theme “Green and Digital” Bishkek Kyrgyzstan.
The conference convened ministers, senior officials, and development partners from across the region to explore joint efforts in digital transformation, regional connectivity, innovation, and sustainable development.
Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to supporting collaborative regional initiatives and contributing toward a digitally resilient and future-ready CAREC community.
On the margins of the conference, Shaza Fatima Khawaja formalized two significant Memoranda of Understanding on behalf of the Government of Pakistan.
The first pertains to the CAREC Innovation and Venture Investment Catalyst (CIVIC) Facility, which seeks to establish a structured, long-term mechanism to nurture and empower a new generation of early-stage venture fund managers across the region.
The second MoU relates to the CAREC Digital Corridor Initiative, aimed at furthering cross-border digital cooperation, strengthening innovation ecosystems, and facilitating digital trade enablement.
The initiative seeks to provide Central Asian states with an alternative, high-capacity, and resilient internet transit gateway through Pakistan, strengthening regional digital connectivity and building long-term infrastructural resilience.
These agreements represent an important step toward deepening Pakistan’s engagement in shared digital priorities and advancing collective progress through strengthened multilateral cooperation.
The CAREC Digital Corridor represents a major step forward for regional connectivity.
For Pakistan, it aligns closely with the Connect Pakistan 2030 Plan, which prioritizes inclusive connectivity and an expanded digital economy.
Pakistan currently hosts over 200 million mobile subscribers, 150 million broadband users, and a national fiber backbone exceeding 230,000 kilometers, supported by more than 54,000 cellular towers and 20 commercial data centers.
The country’s submarine cable capacity has now surpassed 16 Tbps and is projected to expand to over 24 Tbps next year, positioning Pakistan as a regional data transit hub bridging South Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, and beyond.
A regional digital corridor through Pakistan is expected to provide CAREC countries with faster, more affordable, and more reliable international internet access, unlocking opportunities in digital trade, fintech, and e-commerce.
Beyond connectivity, Pakistan emphasized its readiness to host regional data centers that meet global standards of sustainability, security, and performance. With new data infrastructure coming online and access to clean energy resources, Pakistan is well positioned to support cloud facilities serving multiple CAREC markets.
The signing of the CAREC Digital Corridor MoU marks a significant milestone. Pakistan looks forward to technical collaboration with member countries and the Asian Development Bank to advance implementation.
Pakistan also encouraged ADB to move swiftly toward a full feasibility study to provide all partners with a clear assessment of the technical and financial requirements.