Pakistan Has 1.8 Million 5G Users Across 24 Cities, Minister Reveals

The number of 5G users in Pakistan has reached around 1.8 million, with services now live across 24 cities, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja has revealed.

She shared the figures during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecom on Tuesday.

The minister said the government had conducted a 5G spectrum auction to bring the technology to Pakistan, adding that no spectrum auction had taken place after former prime minister Nawaz Sharif left office. She noted that Nawaz Sharif's government had introduced 4G services in the country.

5G users in Pakistan: the rollout in numbers

Pakistan has deployed 1,782 5G sites across 24 cities so far. Jazz accounts for more than half of the infrastructure with 1,015 sites, followed by Zong (China Mobile Pakistan) with 640 and Ufone with 127.

The rollout follows a multiband spectrum auction held on March 10, 2026, in which 480 MHz of spectrum was sold for around $507 million. Operators signed their licences on March 19, 2026, and commercial rollout began on March 20 under a four-phase plan approved by the federal government.

The new licences also require operators to improve existing 4G services alongside the phased 5G expansion.

Which cities have 5G in Pakistan?

Karachi leads the deployment with 385 sites, followed by Lahore with 373 and Islamabad with 276.

Other cities with 5G coverage include Faisalabad, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Multan, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Sheikhupura, Hyderabad, Abbottabad, Quetta, Sukkur, Mardan and Gujrat, among others.

Jazz has the strongest presence in Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad and Multan, while Zong leads deployment in Peshawar, Quetta, Sheikhupura and Sialkot.

Lawmakers question network quality

Not everyone in the committee was celebrating. Lawmakers questioned how Pakistan could move towards 5G when users in several areas were still struggling with basic 3G and 4G connectivity.

One committee member said mobile internet services had deteriorated since the introduction of 5G, while another complained that even basic network services were unavailable in parts of Sindh.

The minister acknowledged that telecom services faced serious challenges, including infrastructure theft, she said entire telecom towers, generators and diesel were sometimes stolen, as well as electricity-related problems.

She added that rising data consumption, driven by social media and artificial intelligence, was putting further pressure on telecom infrastructure.

Frequently asked questions

How many 5G users are there in Pakistan? Around 1.8 million, according to IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja (November 2026).

Which cities have 5G in Pakistan? 24 cities so far, including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Multan, Gujranwala, Sialkot and Hyderabad.

When was Pakistan's 5G spectrum auction held? On March 10, 2026. Around 480 MHz of spectrum was sold for about $507 million, and licences were signed on March 19, 2026.

Which operator has the most 5G sites? Jazz, with 1,015 sites, more than half of the country's 1,782 deployed 5G sites. Zong has 640 and Ufone 127.

Do I need a new phone to use 5G in Pakistan? Yes, you need a 5G-compatible handset that supports the assigned spectrum bands. The minister has said the cheapest locally available 5G handset costs around Rs 36,000.