Pakistan Has Around 1.8 Million 5G Users Across 24 Cities
Pakistan has around 1.8 million 5G users, with services being introduced in 24 cities. Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja shared the figures during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecom on Tuesday.
She said the government had conducted a 5G spectrum auction to introduce the technology in Pakistan, adding that no spectrum auction had taken place after former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif left office. She also said Nawaz Sharif’s government had introduced 4G services in the country, while the current government had moved forward with the 5G spectrum auction.
The headline figure is small against Pakistan’s total mobile base, which runs into tens of millions of subscribers. That gap is the point. 5G in Pakistan is at an early stage, limited to selected cities, while most users still rely on 4G and, in some areas, older networks.
Pakistan 5G users: the committee pushed back on quality
Lawmakers raised concerns about the quality of existing mobile networks, questioning how Pakistan could move towards 5G when users in several areas were still struggling with basic 3G and 4G connectivity. One committee member said mobile internet services had deteriorated since the introduction of 5G, while another complained that even basic network services were unavailable in parts of Sindh.
The same session, reported separately, heard sharper complaints. Committee member Aasia Ishaq said 4G stopped working properly after 5G services launched, and asked whether members should approach the Supreme Court for relief. Another member highlighted that 3G does not even function in Thatta. One member noted that WhatsApp calls drop even in Islamabad, and argued that if service fails in the capital, rural areas face far worse conditions.
Shaza Fatima acknowledged that telecom services faced several challenges, including infrastructure theft and electricity-related problems. She said entire telecom towers, generators and diesel were sometimes stolen, affecting network operations. She added that rising data consumption due to social media and artificial intelligence was also increasing pressure on telecom infrastructure.
The minister offered a measured response to the criticism in the wider session. She acknowledged the committee members’ frustration as entirely valid, but maintained that telecom services are gradually improving. She also invited committee members to submit formal policy recommendations. Committee chairman Syed Amin ul Haq closed the session with a firm directive, saying there should be no compromise on quality of service, and ordered all telecom companies to improve their services immediately.
What 1.8 million users actually means
A user count of around 1.8 million does not mean 1.8 million people enjoy full 5G coverage at all times. It reflects subscriptions or devices recorded on 5G services in the cities where those services have been introduced. Coverage, handset support, spectrum bands and backhaul capacity all shape the real experience, and none of those details were given in the minister’s briefing as reported.
The committee debate therefore matters as much as the headline number. Lawmakers are not only asking for faster headline speeds. They are asking why basic service has weakened in places where it once worked, and what operators and the regulator will do about power outages, theft and court injunctions against fines. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority chairman, in the same session, confirmed inspection tours across 41 districts, admitted that show-cause notices remain a last resort, and said companies obtain court injunctions against fines.
That context helps explain why a 5G launch can coincide with complaints about 4G. New technology does not automatically fix towers, power supply or fibre backhaul. If those foundations stay weak, users can see a new label on their phones while their calls and data still drop.
Pakistan has faced mobile network problems at specific sites before, as reported here: PTA Flags Mobile Network Issues at 166 Sites. The committee session suggests those problems are still live in parliamentary debate, even as the government promotes the next generation of service.
What happens next
The committee has asked operators to improve services immediately, but it did not announce a new deadline, penalty or coverage target in the reporting examined. The next test will be whether users in the 24 cities with 5G, and in areas still waiting for reliable 4G, report a change in daily service. Until then, 1.8 million stands as an early adoption figure, not as proof of nationwide next-generation coverage.
The figures come as PTA sought power to revisit telecom mergers beyond one year, Samsung launched new Galaxy phones, and Apple Music launched in Pakistan.
Frequently asked questions
How many Pakistan 5G users are there?
Around 1.8 million, according to Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja.
In how many cities is 5G available?
Services are being introduced in 24 cities, according to the minister’s briefing to the committee.
Who shared the figure?
Shaza Fatima Khawaja shared the figure during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecom on Tuesday.
Why did lawmakers complain?
Lawmakers said basic 3G and 4G service remains weak in several areas, with complaints about dropped WhatsApp calls in Islamabad and poor service in parts of Sindh.
What problems did the minister cite?
She cited infrastructure theft, including stolen towers, generators and diesel, electricity-related problems, and rising data consumption from social media and artificial intelligence.
