National IT Board has launched a Tourism e-Licensing Portal for the Department of Tourist Services, bringing the licensing process for hotels, restaurants, and travel agencies in Islamabad and Gilgit Baltistan fully online under the federal government’s smart governance and Digital Nation Pakistan agenda. The portal, available at elicence.dts.gov.pk and powered by National IT Board’s digital infrastructure, eliminates the paperwork-heavy manual process that tourism businesses have historically navigated to obtain or renew their operating licences, replacing it with a streamlined digital workflow accessible from anywhere without requiring a physical visit to government offices.
The platform has been designed to serve the specific needs of the tourism sector, which spans a wide range of business types with different licensing requirements. Hotels, restaurants, and travel agencies operating in Islamabad and Gilgit Baltistan can now apply for new licences, complete renewals for existing ones, and track the status of their applications in real time through a single unified portal. For a sector like tourism, where business activity is closely tied to the ability to operate with current and valid licences, the reduction in processing friction and the introduction of real-time status tracking directly addresses a pain point that has affected business owners and operators, particularly those in Gilgit Baltistan whose geographic remoteness previously made government office visits logistically demanding and costly.
Gilgit Baltistan’s inclusion in the portal is particularly significant given the region’s growing profile as one of Pakistan’s most important tourism destinations. The area attracts a substantial and growing volume of domestic and international visitors drawn by its mountain landscapes, trekking routes, and cultural heritage, and the expansion of its hospitality and travel services sector in recent years has created a corresponding need for efficient, accessible regulatory services that match the pace of the industry’s growth. By bringing licensing fully online for businesses in the region, the portal removes a structural barrier that has complicated compliance for operators who previously had limited options for engaging with licensing authorities without travelling significant distances.
National IT Board framed the launch as a contribution to making doing business in Pakistan easier for the tourism industry and to supporting the sector’s growth through digital efficiency. The portal is live and open for applications, with businesses in Islamabad and Gilgit Baltistan encouraged to register and manage their licensing requirements through the official platform at https://lnkd.in/d7JvM-HH or directly at elicence.dts.gov.pk.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
