Pakistan Playing Leading Role in Financial Inclusion & Digital Transformation: Dr. Ismail Shah

Pakistan Playing Leading Role in Financial Inclusion & Digital Transformation: Dr. Ismail Shah. Pakistan Telecommunication Authority Chairman, Dr Syed Ismail Shah shared with the media about efforts of the regulatory body to pave its way towards digital Pakistan. The Chairman said that we are trying to make easy for people to open bank accounts via their smartphones and have maximum number of mobile bank accounts by 2019. He discussed future efforts regarding financial inclusion to the APP during the opening session of the 29th South Asian Network Operators Group (SANOG) meeting, held on Tuesday.

Pakistan Playing Leading Role in Financial Inclusion & Digital Transformation: Dr. Ismail Shah

Dr. Shah said that:

“Currently about 40 million people are using mobile phones in the country and geographically 57% Pakistanis have access to the facility. Two and a half years ago there was no broadband service in Pakistan but now the country has access to 3G, 4G technologies.”

He also said that to meet the true standards of digital transformation, the Government of Pakistan (GoP) has successfully withdrawn the 19.5% tax on Mobile Broadband (MBB). Also 71% of SIMs are now bio-metrically verified.

There is no doubt that Pakistan has improved a lot in last few years due to the unprecedented efforts of both MoITT and PTA. International platforms like GSMA Intelligence, ITU etc. are also praising country’s efforts and commitment towards this cause. In May 2016,  the rate of Mobile Broadband penetration of Pakistan has witnessed phenomenal growth specially when compared to other regional countries like Bangladesh, India and Indonesia.

Also Read: Pakistan Leads in MBB Penetration Growth Rate in the Region: GSMA

So, we hope a technologically well-progressed and digitally transformed Pakistan in coming years.

Source: The Express Tribune