1. The “Indus AI Week” (Feb 9–15)

Pakistan has just concluded its first-ever Indus AI Week, a massive nationwide initiative aimed at integrating AI into governance, agriculture, and education.

• $1 Billion Commitment: PM Shehbaz Sharif announced a landmark $1 billion investment in AI initiatives by 2030, calling youth the “critical strategic asset.”
• The Islamabad Declaration: A new policy framework was signed, focusing on “Sovereign AI” to ensure data privacy and domestic compute power.
• Major Acquisition: In a significant win for the startup ecosystem, a US tech firm acquired Virtuans AI (a Pakistani startup) in a multi-million dollar deal, signaling global confidence in local talent.

2. 5G Spectrum Auction: Final Countdown

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has finalized the “Information Memorandum” for the 5G auction set for March 10, 2026.

• Bandwidth: Approximately 600 MHz of additional spectrum will be auctioned to solve long-standing “slow internet” complaints.
• Rollout: Major cities are expected to see commercial 5G services within 6 to 7 months of the auction.