ISLAMABAD – COMSATS Internet Services (CIS) has strengthened its position among Pakistan’s leading internet service providers following a series of institutional reforms aimed at improving its financial management, expanding digital infrastructure and enhancing service delivery.
The transformation followed the appointment of Ambassador Dr Mohammad Nafees Zakaria as Executive Director of COMSATS in November 2022. Since then, the organisation has pursued reforms focused on financial discipline, institutional restructuring, technological modernisation and improved governance.
Officials said the reform programme was aimed not only at improving the organisation’s financial position but also at modernising its operational framework and addressing long-standing institutional challenges.
The strategy included investment in network infrastructure, digital services, cybersecurity, renewable energy and organisational efficiency. These measures have enabled CIS to strengthen services for government institutions, universities, research organisations and corporate clients, according to officials.
Among the reported gains is an increase in internet bandwidth capacity to 7 Gbps, alongside the expansion of enterprise cloud and hosting services. CIS has also continued developing its ISO/IEC 27001-certified Tier III Data Centre, which officials said had enhanced the organisation’s capacity to provide secure and reliable digital connectivity to a growing customer base.
Governance reforms have also formed a key part of the organisation’s restructuring. Greater emphasis has been placed on financial accountability, operational transparency and long-term sustainability, officials said.
The measures have helped improve fiscal management, address outstanding liabilities and strengthen partnerships with international bandwidth providers, while creating greater scope for investment in technology upgrades and customer-focused services.
Dr Zakaria has also encouraged an institutional strategy aimed at aligning CIS’s expansion with Pakistan’s broader digital transformation goals, according to officials.
Under the strategy, the organisation has prioritised connectivity for educational institutions, support for research collaboration, secure data-hosting facilities and infrastructure capable of meeting the growing requirements of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, big-data analytics and other emerging technologies.
The reform programme has also included measures aimed at reducing the organisation’s reliance on conventional energy sources. These include the installation of a 167-kVA solar power system at the CIS Data Centre.
Officials said the solar project had helped reduce electricity costs and dependence on conventional power sources, enabling the organisation to channel additional resources towards infrastructure expansion and service improvements. The developments come as demand for secure, high-capacity internet infrastructure continues to grow across government, academia and the private sector.
Officials said the progress made by CIS over the past several years demonstrated the potential of sustained institutional reform, strategic leadership and continued investment in technology to strengthen a public-sector organisation operating in an increasingly competitive market.
