Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA) has outlined key priorities under the National Digital Masterplan, with education, healthcare, artificial intelligence and government capacity identified as areas requiring coordinated digital transformation. The developments were discussed at a meeting chaired by Senator Ahad Khan Cheema, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Establishment Division, on the Pakistan Digital Authority and the National Digital Masterplan. Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Khawaja and PDA Chairperson Dr. Sohail Munir also attended the meeting, according to details shared by PDA citing The Nation.
During the meeting, Senator Ahad Khan Cheema called for digitalisation and artificial intelligence-driven transformation to produce practical outcomes across government. He also emphasised that sector plans developed by PDA should include clear outcomes and realistic timelines. The National Digital Masterplan is intended to provide a framework for digital transformation across government, the economy and society, with coordination between federal and provincial stakeholders forming an important part of its implementation. PDA’s plans are therefore being developed with a focus on applying digital technologies to specific public-sector requirements rather than limiting the masterplan to a broad policy framework.
Education was among the sectors discussed in detail, with a proposed roadmap focusing on the introduction of modern digital and artificial intelligence skills within educational institutions. The proposed approach includes students at the primary and middle-grade levels, indicating that digital and AI-related learning could be introduced at an earlier stage of formal education. The initiative would require a structured framework covering the development of relevant skills and their integration into educational institutions. The focus on AI education also reflects the government’s stated objective of building digital capabilities that can support wider adoption of technology across public institutions and the economy.
Healthcare was another major area discussed during the meeting. PDA proposed the development of unified patient records and registries through a computerised, CNIC-based system. Under such a system, a patient’s clinical history could be maintained across public and private hospitals rather than being limited to records held by individual healthcare facilities. The proposed approach would require coordination between different healthcare providers and digital systems to establish a common mechanism for maintaining and accessing patient information. PDA also identified the need for dedicated AI experts and digitally literate focal persons within government ministries to support implementation of digital initiatives. The authority is expected to collaborate with National Information Technology Board (NITB) on training to build the required capacity within government institutions.
Efforts are also under way to place the National Digital Masterplan on the agenda of a meeting between Prime Minister and provincial Chief Ministers, according to PDA. The proposed discussion would bring federal and provincial perspectives together as digital transformation involves responsibilities and services across different levels of government. PDA also highlighted its work on the Prime Minister’s Fuel Relief Scheme and PMOS as examples of digital initiatives associated with the masterplan’s broader objectives. The authority has described its vision as a connected government in which public services operate through shared national digital platforms that can be used across provinces. No specific implementation dates for the education and healthcare proposals were announced in the statement, while further coordination with provincial governments and relevant ministries is expected to determine how the proposed National Digital Masterplan priorities are implemented.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
