MINA: As Pakistan’s new Prime Minister Imran Khan took his oath of office in Islamabad, Pakistani pilgrims in Mina were excited about the change of leadership in their home nation.
“Though we are far away from the country to perform Hajj, we are hearing lots of good news from Pakistan. It seems like our prayers are already answered,” said Naseema Bano, from Islamabad. She added that she is very happy that she will return from Hajj to a “new” Pakistan under a new leadership.
Ahmed Ali, from Karachi, said that many Pakistanis are praying for Khan and his success.
“I feel blessed that I am at the right place to pray for my Naya Pakistan (new Pakistan),” he said. “(Khan) is a lucky man that millions of Pakistanis will pray from him — it is such a blessing for a leader. I hope he will meet our expectations.”
Khan has vowed to run the country on an Islamic welfare state model, as first implemented by the Prophet Muhammad in Madina. However, not everyone is impressed by the new prime minister.
“Not Imran Khan but, yes, Pakistan will always be in my prayers,” said Begum Zaitun, from Jehlum, who added that she is concerned about the future of the Islamic nation’s social fabric under the new government, which is led by Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
“The kind of stories I read about of Imran Khan, I am scared that our country will become morally corrupt where all social evils will rule our society,” she said. “I will pray to Allah that my country will be saved from becoming western.”
A total of 179,210 Pakistanis have performed Hajj this year, one of the largest national representations.
Pakistani pilgrims pray for future of ‘New Pakistan’ during Hajj
Pakistani pilgrims pray for future of ‘New Pakistan’ during Hajj
- While performing Hajj, Pakistanis are keeping a close eye on political activity back home
- New Prime Minister Imran Khan promised to run the country on an Islamic welfare state model of the kind first established by the Prophet Muhammad in Madinah
Pakistan sells 480MHz for $507 million in 5G spectrum auction
- Mobile network operator Jazz buys 190 MHz, Ufone 180MHz and Zong 110MHz, says telecom authority chairman
- Most mobile networks in Pakistan currently operate on fourth-generation (4G) infrastructure, while 5G rollout has faced delays
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has sold 480 megahertz (MHz) of fifth-generation (5G) telecom spectrum for $507 million, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) confirmed after a live auction on Tuesday, marking a key step toward introducing faster mobile broadband.
The live auction was organized by the PTA to determine which telecom operators would acquire the frequencies needed to deploy 5G mobile networks across Pakistan.
Pakistan, a country of over 240 million people, is one of the world’s largest telecom markets by population, with over 190 million mobile phone users. However, most networks currently operate on fourth-generation (4G) infrastructure, and the rollout of 5G has faced delays in recent years due to regulatory, economic and spectrum-allocation challenges.
“In total out of 595 MHz, 480 MHz spectrum has been sold today,” PTA Chairman Hafeez-ur-Rehman said in a speech aired on state media. “This is a very big achievement and a big victory for Pakistan, in my opinion.”
Chinese mobile operator Zong bought 110 MHz of the 5G spectrum, while Ufone bought 180 MHz and Veon-backed firm Jazz bought 190 MHz, Rehman announced.
“And the price in total for this is $507 million,” the PTA chairman said.
According to officials, 5G services are expected to be rolled out first in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta cities, before expanding nationwide as network infrastructure develops.
Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja has previously said the government is also encouraging wider adoption of 5G-compatible devices, noting that about 95 percent of mobile phones used in
Pakistan are locally manufactured, while premium models such as iPhones and Google Pixel devices are imported.
Officials say Pakistan currently uses around 274 megahertz of spectrum, much of it allocated decades ago, while the new auction will make 600 megahertz of spectrum available for next-generation services.
Under the government’s rollout plan, telecom operators are expected to add roughly 3,000 new network sites annually to support the expansion of 5G services.
PTA officials say Pakistan currently offers some of the world’s cheapest mobile data services and have pledged that consumer protection will remain a priority as the country moves toward next-generation connectivity.
