Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed the government’s commitment to collaborating with VEON Group, a global telecommunications and digital services company, to advance information technology, digitization, and artificial intelligence (AI) in Pakistan.
These remarks were made during a meeting on Friday with a five-member delegation led by Augie K Fabela, Chairman of VEON Group. According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, PM Shehbaz praised the contribution of VEON’s subsidiary, Jazz Group, for its significant impact on the country’s telecom and fintech sectors.
“We are eager to partner with VEON Group to drive progress in IT, digitization, and AI in Pakistan,” stated the Prime Minister. He further emphasized the government’s dedication to enhancing the telecommunications sector and announced ambitious plans to boost Pakistan’s IT exports to $25 billion within the next three years.
Highlighting efforts to improve mobile internet access, especially in remote regions, PM Shehbaz noted that steps are being taken to introduce 5G services for faster, more reliable connectivity, which aligns with the vision of a “Digital Pakistan.”
The telecom sector, he added, is crucial for fostering a cashless, digital economy in the country. In response, the VEON delegation expressed appreciation for the government’s initiatives to stabilize the economy, remarking that Pakistan is increasingly becoming a key destination for investments in IT and telecommunications.
The meeting was attended by Minister of State for IT and Telecommunications Shaza Fatima, Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Ali Pervez Malik, and Prime Minister’s Coordinator Rana Ehsan Afzal, along with other senior officials.
In related developments, Jazz, Pakistan’s leading digital operator and VEON’s flagship company, announced last month that VEON’s Board of Directors had approved relocating its headquarters from Amsterdam to Dubai, which has been its operational hub since early 2022.
