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Pakistan is preparing to launch the pilot phase of the National Data Exchange Layer (NDEL), a major step toward a fully connected and transparent digital system. The pilot rollout, scheduled for December, is set to transform the way citizens access essential services.
Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja announced on Monday that the government will launch the pilot phase of the National Data Exchange Layer in December. The project is being developed by NADRA in close collaboration with the Ministry of IT.
Speaking at a press conference alongside ministers from Finance, Power, and Privatisation, she said the National Data Exchange Layer will introduce a connected and transparent ecosystem that makes government services more convenient for citizens. According to the minister, the system will streamline public service delivery and strengthen Pakistan’s tax and revenue mechanisms.
The initiative is designed to connect data between government institutions, which will improve governance, increase transparency, and raise the efficiency of public services. Once implemented, the platform will support a new portal offering online access to services such as electricity bill payments, ID card renewals, and academic degree verification, removing the need for physical visits to government offices.
Government Services to Go Fully Online After NDEL Launch
Shaza Fatima Khawaja explained that after the launch, most government services will be available online through mobile applications, allowing citizens to avoid long queues. She cited a study by the Bank for International Settlements which found that a 10 percent increase in digital payments could raise GDP growth by one percent. For Pakistan’s $400 billion economy, this represents a potential boost of $40 billion.
The minister also highlighted progress in digital services, noting that over 45 million electricity bills have already been digitized through QR-based payment options, made possible via coordination between the Ministry of Energy and the National IT Board. She added that more than one million women opened digital bank accounts under the Benazir Income Support Programme, with around eight million now actively using them.
She further stated that NADRA’s Pak ID app supports QR payments for CNICs and family certificates, while the Islamabad Super App and Smart Islamabad are integrated with Raast. Through Smart Islamabad, citizens paid over Rs1 billion in vehicle token taxes digitally this year.
The government plans to expand such services nationwide so every citizen can benefit from fast, transparent, and secure access to public services powered by the National Data Exchange Layer.
