Islamabad, November 5: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Major General (Retd.) Hafeezur Rehman has revealed that approximately 560 million YouTube videos are watched daily in Pakistan, while the country has around 96 million YouTube users.
The figures highlight the rapidly growing use of social media and digital platforms in Pakistan, where millions of people rely on the internet for entertainment, education, business, communication and information.
The PTA chairman shared these statistics while briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunications in Islamabad.
According to him, Pakistan ranks among the world’s leading countries in YouTube viewership, with approximately 560 million videos watched every day.
He also revealed that Pakistan has around 100 million TikTok accounts.
WhatsApp Users Exchange Billions of Messages Daily
The PTA chairman also presented figures regarding WhatsApp usage in Pakistan.
According to the briefing, the country has approximately 100 million WhatsApp accounts, with users making around one billion calls and exchanging approximately 12 billion messages daily.
These figures demonstrate that WhatsApp has become an essential platform for personal communication, business activities and professional interactions across Pakistan.
Growing Internet Usage Putting Pressure on Telecom Networks
Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications Shaza Fatima Khawaja told the committee that the increasing use of social media platforms and artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly increased internet data consumption across the country.
She said the government is taking steps to improve telecommunications infrastructure and expand modern mobile technologies.
According to the minister, efforts are underway to introduce 5G technology in 24 cities across Pakistan.
However, despite progress toward 5G deployment, users in several areas continue to face slow internet speeds and connectivity problems on 3G and 4G networks.
Lawmakers Raise Concerns Over Mobile Network Performance
During the committee meeting, lawmakers expressed serious concerns about poor mobile network performance, frequent internet disruptions and delays in improving telecommunications infrastructure.
Committee member Ahmad Ateeq complained about weak mobile network coverage in his constituency and along the route to Karachi.
He questioned how the country could move toward 5G technology when reliable 3G services were still unavailable in several rural areas.
Another committee member, Aasia Ishaq, also raised questions about the quality of 4G services.
She said that despite the introduction of 5G technology, mobile internet performance had reportedly deteriorated in several locations.
She also expressed concern over whether citizens would eventually have to approach the Supreme Court to ensure better telecommunications services.
PTA Chairman Directs Telecom Companies to Improve Services
Responding to lawmakers’ concerns, PTA Chairman Hafeezur Rehman said he had visited 41 districts alongside representatives of telecommunications companies to assess mobile network performance and the condition of telecom towers.
He said telecom companies had been directed to improve service quality and address customer complaints.
According to the chairman, issuing show-cause notices and imposing financial penalties are considered last-resort measures because telecom companies sometimes obtain court injunctions against such actions.
Theft of Mobile Towers and Generators Affecting Network Services
Federal Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja identified theft of telecommunications infrastructure as another major reason behind network disruptions.
She said mobile towers had been stolen in some areas, while diesel and generators used to keep telecom sites operational were also being targeted.
Such incidents affect mobile network availability, particularly in areas where telecom towers depend on backup power during electricity outages.
Pakistan’s Rapidly Growing Digital Future
The figures presented before the National Assembly committee highlight the rapidly expanding use of digital platforms in Pakistan.
With millions of users accessing YouTube, TikTok and WhatsApp daily, the demand for faster and more reliable internet services continues to increase.
However, the committee’s discussion also highlighted a major challenge: while digital platform usage is growing rapidly, internet connectivity and mobile network quality remain significant concerns for the public.
The key question now is whether Pakistan’s telecommunications infrastructure can keep pace with the country’s growing digital demand and provide reliable, high-quality internet services to citizens across the country.
