PM Shehbaz Sharif reviews implementation of national digital policy framework

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting to review the implementation of Pakistan’s National Integrated Digital Policy Framework, with discussions focusing on strengthening digital governance, expanding the digital economy, and improving public services through modern technology.

During the meeting, the prime minister directed the relevant authorities to take immediate steps to make the facilities of the National Data Center, “Sky 47,” available to all federal government institutions. He emphasized that the initiative would serve as a cornerstone of Pakistan’s digital transformation strategy and significantly improve the efficiency of government operations.

Shehbaz Sharif said the National Data Center would function as a centralized platform for storing and managing data from all government institutions. He explained that maintaining a unified data infrastructure would eliminate the need for individual departments to establish separate data centers, resulting in substantial savings of public resources while ensuring greater coordination and improved data security.

The prime minister highlighted the role of the Pakistan Digital Authority in leading the country’s digital transformation. He said the authority was providing an effective direction for the delivery of government services and citizen-centric facilities. According to him, the implementation of the National Digital Vision would play a key role in building a modern, integrated, and technologically advanced society capable of meeting future challenges.

Appreciating the progress made so far in promoting digital governance, the digital economy, and digital public services, Shehbaz Sharif instructed officials to strengthen international partnerships under the National Integrated Digital Policy. He stressed the importance of increasing collaboration with global technology partners and ensuring Pakistan’s effective representation at international digital forums to benefit from global expertise and innovation.

The prime minister further directed that the National Digital Vision should be implemented across multiple sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, public utilities, housing, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). He noted that the adoption of digital technologies in these sectors would improve service delivery, enhance efficiency, and provide citizens with faster, more reliable, and transparent access to government services.

He also instructed authorities to accelerate efforts to provide better digital facilities to the public without delay. According to the prime minister, the introduction of a Digital ID system would allow citizens to access multiple government services through a single, integrated platform. This initiative is expected to simplify administrative procedures, reduce paperwork, improve transparency, and make public services more accessible for people across the country.

The meeting also decided that a session of the National Digital Commission would be convened in the near future. The commission will engage provincial governments and other key stakeholders to ensure coordinated implementation of the National Digital Policy across Pakistan. Officials said the collaborative approach would help align federal and provincial initiatives while accelerating the country’s digital transformation agenda.

Several senior cabinet members and government officials attended the meeting, including Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Information Minister Atta Tarar, National Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, Federal Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani, and State Bank of Pakistan Governor Jameel Ahmad, along with other senior officials.

The meeting reaffirmed the government’s commitment to creating a digitally connected Pakistan by modernizing public administration, strengthening the digital economy, and ensuring that technology-driven services improve the daily lives of citizens while supporting sustainable economic growth.