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ISLAMABAD, Apr 30 (APP):Jazz CEO Aamir Ibrahim Wednesday said that for Pakistan to lead in the digital era, the country must adopt a “whole-of-country” approach—going beyond government efforts and involving all sectors, stakeholders, and citizens in achieving a unified digital vision.
Speaking on a panel titled “DFDI Landscape: Insights and Actions,” at the Pakistan Digital Foreign Direct Investment (DFDI) Forum 2025, he stressed that digital investment is not merely about capital – it’s about building confidence in Pakistan’s talent and potential. “We’re already a generation behind in tech. Without embracing AI, local large language models, data centers, and fast internet, we risk falling two generations behind,” he cautioned.
The panel featured key voices from across sectors, including UNDP’s Samuel Rizk, Contour Software’s Bilal Mahmood, Milliman’s Dermot Corry, AI Doctrine Inc.’s Naeem Mirza, and the Digital Cooperation Organisation’s Rao Mehroz Khan.
Aamir highlighted structural challenges—such as overpriced and scarce spectrum, digital literacy gaps, and limited broadband access—that must be urgently addressed. “Issues like broadband expansion, digital banking, and education cannot be solved by the private sector or NGOs alone. The government must play an enabling role—sometimes by intervening, and sometimes by stepping back,” he said.
On spectrum pricing, he was unequivocal: “Spectrum is the foundation of broadband connectivity, yet it has historically been mispriced. The upcoming auction offers an opportunity to fix this and enable digital growth.”
In a separate session titled “Opportunities for the Telecom Sector in the Digital Era,” Asif Aziz, President Enterprise Solutions at Jazz, called for a strategic shift in the telecom sector—from providing basic connectivity to enabling full-scale digital ecosystems for enterprises.
“Pakistan has 197 million mobile connections, but now it’s about enabling digital transformation across healthcare, logistics, manufacturing, and agriculture,” he said. He also flagged the risks of prohibitive spectrum pricing: “If it discourages investment in infrastructure, 5G will remain a theoretical promise.”
On affordability, Asif noted a critical gap: “While 40% of the population lives within mobile broadband coverage, many still don’t use it. A basic smartphone costs 37–40% of a low-income household’s monthly income, and import duties make this
worse. Connectivity without affordability is connectivity in name only.”
Throughout the forum, panelists emphasized that bold public-private collaboration, regulatory reforms, and alignment with global best practices are essential. With a young population and rising demand for innovation, Pakistan is well-positioned to unlock inclusive digital growth—if the right actions are taken now.