Federal Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja announced the launch of Agri Stack, a digital initiative designed to transform Pakistan’s agricultural sector through artificial intelligence and data-driven solutions. The platform has been developed in collaboration with the Land Information and Management System and is aimed at equipping farmers with access to agricultural data that can significantly enhance productivity and efficiency. This development marks the first component of a broader digital transformation strategy called Pakistan Stack.
During the launch ceremony, the minister shared that the Digital Nation Bill has been passed in line with the Prime Minister’s vision for a connected and innovation-driven economy. This vision rests on three key pillars: the development of a digital public infrastructure, promotion of a cashless economy, and empowering the private sector to lead the economic landscape. She emphasized that government institutions will act as enablers while encouraging the private sector to build products and scale them globally.
Shaza Fatima highlighted that NADRA is currently developing the National Data Layer, which will serve as a critical foundation for Digital Public Infrastructure. She assured that data privacy and consent are central to the government’s approach, and no agricultural data will be shared without farmers’ explicit approval. To reinforce this commitment, new laws on data sharing are being developed along with the introduction of a Data Protection Bill.
The Agri Stack initiative aims to facilitate smarter decision-making in the agricultural value chain through AI-backed analytics. The platform is expected to identify trends, optimize farming practices, and contribute to addressing food security challenges. In addition, the IT Ministry plans to extend the concept of sector-specific digital platforms by developing a Health Stack. This upcoming platform will use data to map disease hotspots, aiming to enhance public health interventions across the country.
The minister also emphasized the role of Ignite, the government’s tech fund, in supporting startups working on Agri Stack. Ignite has been providing commercialization training to startups, enabling them to bring their agri-tech solutions to market effectively. She called for greater participation from young professionals in agri-tech innovation and encouraged them to explore emerging opportunities in this domain.
Shaza Fatima noted that the government is focused on aligning educational initiatives with technological advancements. She stressed the need to equip technology graduates with commercial skills so they can compete globally. Drawing on international examples, she referenced the Netherlands, a major agricultural exporter, which has successfully harnessed technology to revolutionize its farming sector.
The long-term vision for Pakistan Stack includes integrating digital platforms across various sectors to enable cohesive service delivery and economic development. With Agri Stack as the starting point, the government aims to build a unified infrastructure that supports farmers, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders in adopting digital tools for growth and innovation.
