Briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman shared comprehensive figures regarding the country's surging social media and digital messaging platform usage. He stated with authority that Pakistan currently leads the world in YouTube viewership, boasting an impressive base of 96 million active users across the nation.
Expanding further on the digital landscape, the PTA chairman revealed that short-form video giant TikTok has accumulated 100 million registered accounts in Pakistan. He noted that an even staggering 150 million Pakistanis actively consume video content on the platform daily, highlighting the deep penetration of digital media in everyday Pakistani life.
Turning to communication channels, he added that instant messaging giant WhatsApp maintains 100 million active accounts within the country. According to official metrics shared with the committee, Pakistani users generate an astonishing volume of digital traffic, making one billion voice and video calls and transmitting a massive 12 billion text messages daily.
Separately addressing the parliamentary panel, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja detailed how the exponential rise in social media adoption and artificial intelligence (AI) integration had drastically spiked national data consumption levels over recent fiscal periods. The minister informed lawmakers that no spectrum auction had successfully taken place after former prime minister Nawaz Sharif left office.
She credited his prior administration with the pioneering introduction of 4G mobile broadband services, while proudly noting that the incumbent government had now successfully conducted a much-anticipated 5G spectrum auction. Providing updates on next-generation connectivity, the minister stated that approximately 1.8 million citizens were already utilizing 5G services across Pakistan.
She added that the advanced network technology was being systematically rolled out across 24 major cities, with stringent administrative steps being implemented to elevate overall service standards. Addressing persistent public grievances, Shaza Fatima highlighted several underlying operational bottlenecks behind recurring disruptions in telecommunications services.
She specifically cited the rampant theft of critical infrastructure, including mobile communication towers, backup diesel supplies, and heavy-duty generators, as primary factors crippling service quality and continuity. Industry experts attending the session noted that while consumer demand for high-speed mobile broadband and digital entertainment continues to shatter previous records, protecting national telecommunications infrastructure remains an urgent policy priority for sustainable economic digitization.
The parliamentary committee directed relevant law enforcement agencies and provincial administrations to crack down on syndicates targeting cellular infrastructure, ensuring uninterrupted digital growth and seamless connectivity for millions of citizens reliant on these vital networks.