VEON and JazzWorld have held talks with Pakistan’s Ministry of IT and Telecommunication on 5G expansion, telecom sector sustainability and the policy conditions needed to support further investment in the country’s digital economy.
The meeting took place in Islamabad on September 7 and was led by VEON Group CEO Kaan Terzioğlu and JazzWorld CEO Aamir Ibrahim, who met Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja.
The discussion also covered digital governance, connectivity expansion and ways to increase adoption of digital services among consumers and businesses.
5G and recent spectrum auction feature in talks
VEON and JazzWorld highlighted the government’s recent spectrum auction as an important step toward creating the capacity needed for further network investment and 5G expansion.
The delegation said the additional spectrum strengthens the foundation for the next phase of mobile network development in Pakistan.
The meeting did not result in any new spectrum allocation, investment commitment, rollout target or policy measure.
Instead, the discussions focused on the broader conditions required to sustain telecom investment as operators prepare for higher-capacity networks and wider digital service adoption.
Operators push for predictable investment environment
A major theme of the meeting was the need for what VEON described as a predictable and investment-friendly policy environment.
“Pakistan remains one of VEON’s most important markets, and we see significant potential in its young, increasingly digital population,” Terzioğlu said.
He added that greater policy predictability could encourage additional private investment and innovation while allowing JazzWorld to play a larger role in the digital economy.
Aamir Ibrahim similarly emphasised continued cooperation between the government and industry as Pakistan moves into the next phase of 5G and digital adoption.
He said collaboration would be important for creating conditions that support investment, innovation and inclusive digital growth.
Telecom sustainability remains part of policy discussion
The inclusion of telecom sector sustainability in the talks is significant because future 5G investment depends not only on access to spectrum but also on operators' ability to generate sufficient returns from network expansion.
The delegation discussed the wider digital ecosystem alongside connectivity, including the adoption of digital technologies by businesses and consumers.
No specific proposals were disclosed around taxation, pricing, infrastructure sharing, spectrum fees or other regulatory measures that could affect sector economics.
The meeting therefore appears to have been focused on strategic engagement rather than the announcement of a new commercial or regulatory programme.
JazzWorld positions beyond connectivity
JazzWorld continues to present its role in Pakistan as extending beyond conventional mobile connectivity.
The company is increasingly positioning itself within a broader digital ecosystem that includes technology services and digital platforms alongside its telecom operations.
The meeting reflected that wider positioning, with discussions covering digital governance, connectivity and technology adoption rather than mobile network expansion alone.
The VEON and JazzWorld delegation also included Kazim Mujtaba, President of Jazz GSM; Syed Zaheer Mehdi, Chief Corporate and Regulatory Officer at JazzWorld; and Mudassar Hussain, Head of Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs.
