Government plans unified digital systems, AI skills and stronger data coordination across education, healthcare and public services.
The federal government is moving ahead with the National Digital Masterplan Pakistan, aiming to accelerate digital transformation through three key areas: digital governance, digital economy and digital society.
The initiative is designed to improve public services while supporting economic and technological growth across different sectors.
Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Establishment Division Senator Ahad Khan Cheema said the government would seek to place the Masterplan on the agenda of the upcoming meeting between the Prime Minister and provincial chief ministers. The move is intended to build broader coordination around the country’s digital transformation strategy.
Cheema made the remarks while chairing a meeting focused on the Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA). Federal Minister for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja, PDA Chairman Dr. Sohail Munir and senior officials from relevant departments also attended the session.
The minister stressed that digitalisation and artificial intelligence should produce measurable results rather than remain limited to policy discussions.
He directed the PDA to develop sector-specific plans with practical objectives and achievable timelines. Initiatives covering education, healthcare, commerce and other fields will be reviewed during the Authority’s next meeting.
In education, the government discussed creating a structured roadmap for teaching digital and AI-related skills through schools and other educational institutions.
The proposed approach would begin at an early stage, including primary and middle grades, to prepare students for future technology-driven opportunities.
Healthcare digitalisation was another major focus. The meeting considered developing unified patient records and a national registry containing clinical and treatment histories.
A computerised, CNIC-linked system could allow authorised healthcare institutions to access patient information and improve continuity of treatment.
The PDA also highlighted the need for AI specialists and digitally skilled focal persons across ministries and divisions.
Existing government employees handling IT responsibilities could receive additional training, while personnel made available through the implementation of e-Office may also be trained for digitalisation-related roles.
The PDA agreed to coordinate with the National Information Technology Board (NITB) on training and capacity-building initiatives. It also briefed the meeting on ongoing cooperation with federal divisions.
The government further discussed consultations with provincial IT departments and stakeholders on the National Digital Masterplan. Officials stressed that stronger coordination on data and registries could help institutions access reliable information while respecting provincial responsibilities.