ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Pakistan ranks first globally in YouTube video viewing, with 560 million videos watched daily in the country, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Major General (retd) Hafeez Ur Rehman told a National Assembly committee.
The PTA chairman briefed the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology on social media usage and digital trends in Pakistan.
He said around 96 million Pakistanis currently use YouTube, while 560 million videos are watched on the platform every day. He added that TikTok has 100 million user accounts in Pakistan, while 150 million Pakistanis watch videos on the platform.
Regarding WhatsApp, Hafeez Ur Rehman said the platform has around 100 million user accounts in the country. Pakistanis make approximately one billion calls and send 12 billion messages through WhatsApp daily, he added.
Shaza Fatima highlights 5G expansion
Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja said the use of social media and artificial intelligence (AI) had significantly increased data consumption.
She said no spectrum auction had been held since Nawaz Sharif's tenure, adding that his government had introduced 4G services, while the current government had conducted a spectrum auction for 5G.
The minister said around 1.8 million people were using 5G services in Pakistan, which were being introduced in 24 cities. She added that measures were being taken to improve telecommunications services.
Theft behind telecom service disruptions
Shaza Fatima said several factors contributed to disruptions in telecom services, including theft of infrastructure.
She pointed out that entire mobile towers, diesel supplies and generators were sometimes stolen, affecting the provision of telecommunications services.