ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Major General (retd) Hafeezur Rehman has said that Pakistan leads the world in watching YouTube videos, with 560 million people viewing content on the platform daily in the country.
He made the remarks while briefing the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information Technology.
Social Media Usage Figures
Giving a breakdown of internet and social media use in Pakistan, the PTA chairman told the committee that TikTok has 100 million user accounts in the country, while 150 million Pakistanis watch videos on the platform. He added that 96 million Pakistanis are currently using YouTube.
On messaging, he said WhatsApp has 100 million user accounts in Pakistan. Pakistanis make one billion calls on the app every day and send 12 billion messages daily.
Minister Highlights Data Surge, 5G Rollout
Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja told the meeting that the use of social media and artificial intelligence has led to a sharp rise in data consumption.
She said no spectrum auction had been held after Nawaz Sharif’s tenure, noting that he had delivered 4G to the country, while the present government has now conducted a 5G spectrum auction.
According to the minister, 1.8 million people in Pakistan are currently using 5G services. The technology is being rolled out in 24 cities, and the government is taking steps to improve service quality.
Theft Behind Telecom Disruptions
Addressing the causes of poor telecom services, Shaza Fatima said there are several reasons for service disruptions. She said that entire towers, diesel supplies and generators are often stolen, affecting network reliability.