IT Secretary Unable to Explain 5G When Questioned in National Assembly
Parliamentary Secretary for Information Technology Sabheen Ghoury was unable to explain what 5G means when questioned about the technology during a National Assembly session.
When presiding officer Abdul Qadir Patel asked her to explain 5G, Ghoury responded that the technology would increase internet speeds. The exchange continued when another member of the assembly joined in and attempted to explain the term to her.
The moment, which unfolded on the floor of the house, quickly became the story of the session’s technology discussion.
The exchange
Patel’s question was direct: explain what 5G means. Ghoury’s answer was that it would increase internet speeds. She did not go further into what distinguishes the fifth generation of mobile networks from 4G, such as lower latency, higher device density or the spectrum bands involved.
A fellow lawmaker then stepped in to help, offering an explanation of the term to Ghoury in front of the house. The parliamentary secretary holds the IT portfolio in the assembly, which made the moment difficult to ignore.
Where 5G stands in Pakistan
Beyond the exchange itself, the session produced a concrete detail about the state of Pakistan’s 5G rollout. Ghoury told the assembly that 5G services had been launched in only 24 cities so far.
She said the government was working to stabilise services in those locations before expanding coverage to other cities. That is a meaningful statement of policy: rather than racing to announce new cities, the ministry is choosing to fix performance in the existing footprint first.
The approach echoes concerns raised by the telecom industry itself. Industry voices have previously warned against a rushed 5G launch in Pakistan, arguing that weak infrastructure and unresolved spectrum questions could leave subscribers paying for a service that does not perform.
Why the moment matters
The incident raises a question that goes beyond one awkward exchange: whether the people steering technology policy can explain the technologies they are steering. 5G is central to Pakistan’s digital plans, from the IT ministry’s export targets to the PTA’s licensing framework.
A parliamentary secretary who cannot describe the technology invites scrutiny of how closely the ministry follows the technical detail of its own rollout. At the same time, the 24-city figure and the stabilisation-first approach are exactly the kind of specifics the public rarely hears about the rollout, and they deserve attention on their own terms.
For Pakistan’s mobile users, the practical question is simpler: when will 5G reach their city, and will it work properly when it does? On the second point, at least, the ministry’s stated position is that it will not expand until the current service is stable.
For more on Pakistan’s telecom and 5G story, read our earlier coverage of warnings against a hasty 5G launch, the PTA’s telecom competition rules and mobile package prices, the PTA’s move to scrap the one-year telecom review limit, and how to check your Zong balance.
Source: ProPakistani
Frequently asked questions
What happened in the National Assembly?
Parliamentary Secretary for IT Sabheen Ghoury was asked by presiding officer Abdul Qadir Patel to explain what 5G means. She said it would increase internet speeds, and another MNA stepped in to explain the term to her.
How many cities in Pakistan have 5G?
According to Ghoury’s statement in the assembly, 5G services have been launched in only 24 cities so far.
What is the government’s plan for expanding 5G?
The government says it is working to stabilise services in the 24 cities where 5G is already live before expanding coverage to other cities.
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Image note: real photo — the National Assembly of Pakistan chamber during a session, or a 5G/telecom tower in a Pakistani city (licensed stock or file photo). No AI-generated imagery.
