Despite the expansion of mobile broadband coverage, millions of Pakistanis remain disconnected from the digital world because they cannot afford smartphones. High device prices, limited financing options, and strict credit requirements continue to prevent low-income households from accessing mobile internet.
According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics’ Household Integrated Economic Survey 2024–25, only 50% of people aged 10 and above own a mobile phone. Ownership is significantly higher among males (69%) than females (31%), highlighting the country’s digital gender gap.
A GSMA report published in August 2025 found that although mobile broadband covered around 80% of Pakistan’s population, only 30% used mobile internet in 2024. This demonstrates that network availability alone cannot guarantee digital access.
Installment-based smartphone financing could help address the problem by allowing consumers to pay in smaller monthly amounts. However, daily wage earners and informal-sector workers often struggle to qualify because they lack formal income records and credit histories.
Proposed Open Banking Regulations by the State Bank of Pakistan could create new opportunities by allowing authorized lenders to assess customers through verified financial transaction records, subject to regulatory approval and customer consent.
Meanwhile, telecom operators have proposed measures to manage payment defaults and encourage wider smartphone financing. However, consumer protection, transparent repayment procedures, and fair dispute resolution will be essential.
Pakistan could also consider reducing taxes on entry-level smartphones and encouraging affordable local manufacturing to bring device prices down.
Ultimately, closing the digital divide requires more than expanding telecommunications networks. Affordable smartphones, flexible financing, and inclusive credit assessment systems are equally important to ensure that ordinary Pakistanis can participate in the growing digital economy.