Pakistan’s federal cabinet approved the Digital Nation Pakistan Act 2024, a significant step towards digitizing the economy and promoting e-governance. The Act establishes two key institutions: the National Digital Commission, a policymaking body led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and including members from both federal and provincial governments, and the Pakistan Digital Authority, a corporate entity with financial and administrative autonomy responsible for implementing the goals of the Digital Pakistan initiative.
Prime Minister Sharif also emphasized strengthening collaboration with China on digital development. Following a recent visit to China, he announced a high-level Chinese delegation would visit Pakistan to solidify cooperation. The government plans to send 1,000 Pakistani youth to China for training in technology and agriculture, while Huawei has pledged to annually train 200,000 Pakistanis in information technology.
In other cabinet decisions, appointments to the National School for Public Policy were approved, a committee was formed to initiate the appointment of an Islamabad representative to the National Commission for Human Rights, and the Arbitration Bill 2024 was approved for further consultation with provinces. An MoU between Pakistan’s National Accountability Bureau and Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption commission was greenlit, and decisions made by other committees on state-owned enterprises, economic coordination, and legislative matters were endorsed.
In a separate meeting, the Prime Minister directed a reduction in power outages during the summer months and met with President Asif Ali Zardari to discuss the economic situation and potential relief measures for citizens in the upcoming budget.
These actions highlight Pakistan’s multi-pronged approach to digital transformation. By establishing key institutions, fostering partnerships with China, and investing in its workforce, Pakistan aims to become a more technologically advanced nation.
