Julian Gorman, head of Asia Pacific at GSMA, emphasized Pakistan’s potential for digital growth and leadership in the digital economy due to its sizable, well-trained youth population.
However, he noted that Pakistan’s government and essential services have not fully utilized the country’s digital potential. Gorman highlighted the need for improved e-governance adoption to enhance governmental performance and connectivity among people.
He spoke about the upcoming GSMA Digital Nation Summit in Islamabad, the first international event of its kind in Pakistan. The summit aims to gather stakeholders such as investors, innovators, and regulatory authorities to discuss Pakistan’s digital future. Gorman stressed the importance of implementing regulatory actions to support Pakistan’s transition to a knowledge-based economy driven by innovation and technology.
Gorman expressed concerns over the impact of Pakistan’s federal budget for 2025 on the IT and telecom sector, particularly criticizing increased taxation on smartphones, which could hinder initiatives like “Smartphone for All” and limit the widespread use of fintech and digital services. He urged Pakistan to find a balance between security measures and digitalization efforts, advocating for clear strategies and policies to maintain investor confidence and support content creators in the digital space.