Pakistan’s Internet Usage Has More Than Doubled Since 2019
Wire desk byline Sourced from Xinhua, Dawn, Arab News, Anadolu and Minute Mirror. Translated and abridged by the GSRRA Desk.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has welcomed the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) findings released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) under the Household Integrated Economic Survey (HIES) 2024–25, which show significant growth in digital connectivity across Pakistan.
According to the survey, more than 96 percent of households now have access to mobile or smartphone facilities. Internet usage at the household level has also increased sharply, with over 70 percent of households using internet services, compared to 34 percent in 2019.
The survey highlights Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as the leading province in household-level digital access, with 77 percent of households connected. PTA said the progress reflects sustained efforts by the government and the regulator to expand access, improve service availability, and make mobile devices and internet services more affordable for households.
At the individual level, among people aged 10 and above, mobile and smartphone ownership increased from 45 percent in 2019 to 50 percent in 2025. Nationwide, 92 percent of individuals are using mobile phones.
Internet usage at the individual level has seen a major rise, increasing from 17 percent in 2019 to 57 percent in 2025. The data shows that men and women are using the internet at similar levels overall. In urban areas, female internet usage stands at 71 percent, higher than male usage at 67 percent.
The survey also points to improved digital awareness, safer online practices, and better digital skills among users. PTA congratulated PBS on the release of HIES 2024–25, particularly the ICT indicators, saying the data provides a strong foundation for informed policymaking and regulatory planning.
Reference link:- https://propakistani.pk/2026/01/05/pakistans-internet-usage-has-more-than-doubled-since-2019/
Zamir Ahmed Awan is the founder and Chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance, a think tank in Islamabad. He studied engineering at Shanghai University in the 1980s, and years later he went back to China as Pakistan's science counsellor in Beijing, from 2010 until 2016, working on science and higher education cooperation between the two countries.…
