Iqbal sets $1tr digital goal for 2035

Federal planning minister Ahsan Iqbal presented a digital roadmap on Tuesday aimed at lifting Pakistan to a $1 trillion economy by 2035 under the Uraan Pakistan vision, according to Express Tribune. He made the remarks at the 2026 SCO Digital Economy Forum in Urumqi, where he addressed delegates from Shanghai Cooperation Organisation member states. Iqbal said Pakistan's digital user base now exceeds 150 million, while data consumption has grown 25% over the past two years.

Broadband expansion is another pillar, with fibre-optic connections due to rise from three million to more than five million and a near-term aim of 10 million households on high-speed wired service. The minister tied this push to a record year for technology, with IT and ICT exports reaching $4.6 billion in the most recent fiscal year.

Iqbal stated that Pakistan is moving beyond traditional IT outsourcing toward proprietary products, digital platforms and tech-driven manufacturing, calling the digital economy the engine of broader growth. He also highlighted gains for women, with mobile internet use among females climbing from 33% to 45% and the digital gender gap narrowing from 35% to 8%. He argued that a digital shift leaving women out would undermine both economic and social objectives.