Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja has been named “Industry Champion of the Year 2026” at the Fastmode Awards, receiving international recognition amid reported growth in Pakistan’s information technology and digital services sectors.
According to details released about the award, Khawaja was selected following a competition involving more than 500 companies from over 60 countries. The distinction is reportedly presented annually to a single industry leader worldwide.
The recognition comes as Pakistan reports record performance in information technology and IT-enabled services (ITeS), with combined exports reaching $4.6 billion during the fiscal year 2025–26.
The sector also recorded a reported trade surplus of $3.9 billion, the highest among Pakistan’s services sectors.
Freelance export earnings reached $1.76 billion, while the number of registered and active freelancers exceeded 2.37 million, highlighting the growing contribution of independent digital workers to the national economy.
Pakistan’s telecommunications infrastructure also underwent significant developments during the year.
In March 2026, the country completed what was described as its largest-ever auction of spectrum for 5G and Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS), increasing the total available spectrum to 750 megahertz.
Pakistan also reportedly became the first Asian country to completely abolish right-of-way charges, a measure intended to accelerate the expansion of fibre-optic networks and improve digital connectivity.
Meanwhile, Google formally established its first office in Pakistan through official registration and launched a local Chromebook assembly line with an annual production capacity of 600,000 devices.
Digital skills development has also remained a major component of the government’s technology initiatives.
Under the DigiSkills programme, more than 4.5 million young people, including approximately 800,000 women, have reportedly received free training in digital skills.
Pakistan has also recorded progress in narrowing the gender gap in mobile internet usage.
According to figures attributed to the GSMA, the gap declined from 38% to 8%, indicating a substantial improvement in women’s access to mobile internet services.
The award recognises Khawaja’s reported contribution to Pakistan’s digital transformation at a time when the government is seeking to expand technology exports, improve telecommunications infrastructure and increase participation in the digital economy.