Ahsan Urges SCO Nations to Formulate Interconnected Tech Corridors

Urumqi: Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has urged Shanghai Cooperation Organization countries to establish interconnected tech corridors to boost trade, sovereign AI capability, and cross-border commerce. He was addressing the 2026 Shanghai Cooperation Organization Digital Economy Forum today.

According to Radio Pakistan, the Minister emphasized that Pakistan is undertaking a massive broadband expansion initiative. The plan involves scaling fiber-optic connections from three million to over five million, with an immediate goal to provide high-speed wired broadband to 10 million households. This effort is part of Pakistan’s broader strategy to enhance its digital infrastructure.

Ahsan Iqbal highlighted that Pakistan’s IT and ICT exports have reached an unprecedented level, hitting 4.6 billion dollars in the last fiscal year. He further stated that Pakistan is transitioning beyond the export of traditional IT services, focusing instead on developing proprietary tech products, building robust digital platforms, and fostering tech-driven manufacturing.