Two significant Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) projects under the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) are facing delays due to the non-issuance of a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Planning Commission, ministry sources have confirmed. Both projects, carrying a combined cost of less than Rs. 1 billion, have not seen any practical work initiated, even as the first quarter of the current fiscal year nears its end on September 30.
Under existing regulations, the Departmental Development Working Party (DDWP) of MoITT can approve projects costing under one billion rupees. However, the Planning Commission’s NOC remains mandatory for final clearance, resulting in a bottleneck that has stalled progress on these strategic initiatives. One of the delayed projects involves establishing a Command and Control Fusion Center in Islamabad, which is expected to enhance monitoring, coordination, and rapid response capabilities across government operations. The second initiative is part of the National AI Development Programme, designed to build AI hubs and specialized training centers nationwide to strengthen workforce skills and accelerate digital transformation.
These initiatives are critical for implementing the recently approved National AI Policy, which outlines the creation of AI hubs, data centers, and training facilities to support Pakistan’s growing technology ecosystem. Officials note that these projects play a pivotal role in achieving the objectives of the government’s Digital Pakistan vision, providing essential infrastructure for emerging technologies and supporting national digital security frameworks. Sources indicate that the Planning Commission is currently prioritizing mega projects worth several billion rupees, which has slowed the approval process for smaller but strategically significant projects within the IT sector.
Delays in executing these initiatives could have broader implications for Pakistan’s technology landscape. AI hubs and advanced data centers are expected to facilitate research, innovation, and capacity building for both public and private sector stakeholders. Meanwhile, the Command and Control Fusion Center would serve as a cornerstone for effective monitoring, incident management, and interagency coordination. Ministry officials warn that any further postponements could compromise the timely rollout of AI and digital initiatives, ultimately affecting policy implementation, innovation adoption, and progress toward a digitally empowered economy.
The MoITT continues to advocate for faster NOC processing to ensure critical projects proceed without additional setbacks. Authorities emphasize that timely execution is necessary not only for meeting policy objectives but also for maintaining confidence in Pakistan’s emerging technology infrastructure and digital governance frameworks. These delays underline the need for a more streamlined approval process that balances the prioritization of mega projects with the timely advancement of smaller but essential initiatives aimed at supporting national digital goals.
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