Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has highlighted the provincial government’s expanding use of digital systems to improve governance, public service delivery and administrative monitoring. Speaking about several technology-driven initiatives, she said digital platforms and surveillance systems are helping authorities monitor emergencies, process business applications and deliver government services directly to citizens. The initiatives include the PITB digital monitoring system, Safe City cameras, the AI-assisted e-Biz Portal and the Maryam Ki Dastak platform.
The e-Biz Portal has been introduced to simplify business registration and approval procedures by allowing applicants to submit requests online instead of visiting multiple government departments. According to the chief minister, businesses such as petrol stations that previously required multiple No Objection Certificates can now apply through a centralized digital system. Applications are processed within a stated 15-day timeline, while more than 117,000 businesses have reportedly received online approvals. The system also incorporates measures designed to reduce opportunities for corruption by limiting officials’ access to applicants’ phone numbers and visual identities during the processing of applications.
Digital technology is also being used to expand doorstep access to public services through the Maryam Ki Dastak app. Citizens can request services including birth and death certificates, marriage certificates, domicile documents, police verification, driving licenses, FIR copies, vehicle registration and business-related services without making repeated visits to government offices. More than four million service deliveries have reportedly been completed, while the platform now provides access to more than 76 government services. The model is intended to reduce queues and make government services accessible from citizens’ homes.
The Punjab government is also using digital monitoring infrastructure to oversee emergency response and public administration. PITB systems and Safe City cameras allow officials to monitor situations remotely, including emergency responses during incidents such as commercial fires. The chief minister also highlighted technology-enabled welfare delivery, under which citizens can request emergency ration supplies and assistive equipment such as wheelchairs, walking frames, hearing aids and white canes through designated channels. According to the address, eligible requests can be delivered to citizens’ homes within 48 hours. These initiatives form part of Punjab’s wider shift toward technology-based governance, with digital applications being used to streamline administrative processes, improve monitoring and provide public services without requiring citizens to visit government offices.
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