Pakistan has around 100 million WhatsApp users, who collectively send approximately 12 billion messages every day, according to Pakistan Telecommunication Authority Chairman Major General (retd.) Hafeez ur Rehman.
The PTA chairman shared the figures while briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication about digital platforms and telecom services in Pakistan.
12 Billion WhatsApp Messages Every Day
According to the figures presented to lawmakers:
- WhatsApp users in Pakistan: around 100 million
- Messages exchanged daily: around 12 billion
The numbers highlight the enormous role WhatsApp now plays in everyday communication in Pakistan, including personal conversations, business communication and voice and video calls.
Hafeez ur Rehman currently serves as chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority.
Lawmakers Raise Telecom Quality Concerns
The discussion also turned to the quality of mobile and internet services.
Committee members complained about unreliable connectivity and frequent call disruptions, with one member pointing out that even WhatsApp calls in Islamabad were being disconnected.
The PTA chairman acknowledged that there remained significant room to improve telecom-service quality.
He told the committee that PTA officials had inspected mobile towers and visited 41 districts alongside telecom operators to identify network problems.
Power Outages Affect Mobile Networks
Hafeez ur Rehman also identified electricity shortages as one of the challenges affecting telecom networks.
Mobile towers rely on continuous power and backup systems, meaning prolonged electricity outages can affect network availability and service quality.
The PTA chairman said improved power availability could help telecom operators provide more reliable services.
Pakistan’s rapidly growing use of digital platforms is placing greater importance on reliable connectivity. The PTA chairman recently said nearly 100 million Pakistanis use major social-media platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok.
With WhatsApp alone reportedly handling around 12 billion messages a day in Pakistan, reliable mobile broadband has become increasingly important for both consumers and businesses.
