Pakistan to Establish New Landing Stations for Submarine Cables

Pakistan is preparing to expand its digital infrastructure by setting up new landing stations for submarine cables beyond Karachi, as the government seeks to strengthen internet connectivity and attract foreign investment.

Currently, all seven of Pakistan’s existing submarine cables land in Karachi, but three more cables are expected to arrive soon. Officials confirmed that discussions are underway to establish alternative landing stations in Gwadar or other coastal locations to reduce dependency on a single hub.

Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima, highlighted that Pakistan’s IT exports have reached $3.8 billion, though actual figures are estimated to be almost double. She said a significant portion of these exports comes from freelancers, making them a vital contributor to the country’s digital economy. To further support this momentum, the government has established the Pakistan Digital Authority and launched multiple initiatives under the Digital Nation Pakistan program.

One of the flagship initiatives is DigiSkills, where 300,000 people have already been trained in digital and freelancing skills, with another 300,000 in the pipeline. In collaboration with global tech companies including Huawei and Google, Pakistan plans to train one million individuals in digital skills. “Our vision is that every child in Pakistan should have access to high-speed internet. In three to four years, we will be a digitally transformed country, Insha’Allah,” Shaza Fatima said.

According to the Minister for IT and Telecom government is also working to improve the ecosystem for digital infrastructure investment, particularly in fiberization. At present, only 14 percent of telecom towers in Pakistan are connected with fiber, compared to the regional demand of over 50 percent.

Challenges such as high Right of Way (RoW) charge the highest in the region and a complex approval process have hindered progress. However, recent steps have been taken, including the abolition of RoW charges by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the creation of a fast-track approval portal. The Prime Minister’s Office has also directed the National Highway Authority and Pakistan Railways to waive RoW charges.

To diversify internet access, multiple agencies including the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and Pakistan Space Activity Regulatory Board are working on frameworks for satellite internet. International consultants are streamlining the licensing process, with regulations expected to be finalized soon. Several companies from the US, China, and other countries have already submitted applications to provide satellite internet services in Pakistan.

She emphasized that Pakistan’s digital growth depends on strengthening its backbone infrastructure. Currently, 98 percent of internet users rely on mobile broadband and Wi-Fi, while only 2 percent use fiber.

The government aims to increase fiberization to 40–60 percent in the coming years. By addressing policy bottlenecks, creating redundancy in submarine cable landing stations, and encouraging private investment, Pakistan hopes to position itself as a key digital hub in the region.