Internet in Pakistan

The Internet has been accessible in Pakistan since the early 1990s, and the country now boasts over 140 million Internet users, ranking it as the 7th-largest population of Internet users globally. Information and communications technology (ICT) is one of the fastest-growing industries in Pakistan. In 2001, only 1.3% of the population used the Internet, but this figure increased to 6.5% by 2006 and reached 10.0% in 2012. As of July 2021, approximately 54% of the population, translating to around 118 million citizens, had access to the Internet. Recognizing the significant role of telecommunications in the economy, the Government of Pakistan (GoP) introduced the Telecommunication Policy 2015. This policy acknowledges telecommunications as a dominant sector contributing to societal well-being and GDP. The Telecom Policy 2015 aims to support a comprehensive national agenda and transform Pakistan into an economically vibrant, knowledge-based, middle-income country by 2025.