Prime minister orders federal ministries to digitise relevant data and ensure its timely transfer to the central data centre under the Digital Nation Pakistan initiative.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday directed all federal ministries to complete necessary measures for digitising relevant data within the stipulated timeframe and ensure its provision to the central data centre in coordination with provincial governments and concerned institutions.
Chairing a progress review meeting on the implementation of the Digital Nation Pakistan initiative, the prime minister said the national-level central data centre established under the programme would play a key role in delivering government services and providing facilities to citizens.
He stressed that clearly defined responsibilities for federal ministries, coupled with timely provision of relevant data to the central data centre, would help align the government system with modern requirements.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said the Digital Nation Pakistan Programme was primarily aimed at ensuring efficient and convenient public services at the national level. He added that bringing useful data from different sectors and government institutions together at a single platform could make a significant contribution to Pakistan’s economic development.
Referring to the fuel subsidy scheme for deserving segments of society, the prime minister said data sharing among institutions had played an important role in its successful implementation.
He also emphasised the importance of digitising ministry performance and relevant government data to help prevent corruption and institutional mismanagement.
The prime minister appreciated the Ministry of Health for taking steps, in collaboration with provincial governments, towards establishing universal medical records at the national level. He also welcomed the implementation of QR codes aimed at ensuring the availability and verification of quality medicines across the country.
The Ministry of Information Technology briefed the meeting that comprehensive sector-specific digitisation measures were being undertaken with the active cooperation of relevant ministries.
The meeting was informed that, with public convenience in mind, digitisation in basic service sectors, particularly health and agriculture, was being completed on a priority basis.
The Ministry of Information Technology, in collaboration with the Ministry of Law, was also taking measures to make relevant national laws available at a single platform. The initiative is expected to provide better guidance for future legislation.
Officials said work was continuing on the digitisation of priority sectors in line with the prime minister’s directives, with measures focused on advancing digital government services, the digital economy and digital public facilitation.
Various federal ministries briefed the meeting on their public services, performance and progress in providing relevant information to the central data centre. A special briefing was also given on data being provided by the Ministry of National Health Services and the use of digital systems to verify the quality of medicines.
Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Minister for National Health Services Syed Mustafa Kamal, Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja and senior officials of relevant government institutions attended the meeting.