The federal government is seeking to complete consultations with provincial governments on the National Digital Masterplan (NDMP) before the upcoming federal budget as part of efforts to accelerate Pakistan’s digital transformation agenda.
A high-level meeting on the NDMP was co-chaired by Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema and Advisor to the Prime Minister’s Office Dr. Tauqeer Shah to review progress on digital governance reforms and strengthen coordination between federal and provincial institutions.
The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Secretary IT Zarrar Hashim Khan, Chairman Pakistan Digital Authority Dr. Sohail Munir, and other senior officials.
Officials briefed participants on the implementation roadmap, institutional coordination mechanisms, and key initiatives under the National Digital Masterplan, which aims to advance digital governance, digital infrastructure, digital economy, and digital society reforms across Pakistan.
During the meeting, Ahad Cheema stressed the importance of provincial participation in ensuring the successful implementation of the masterplan. He said the NDMP is intended to serve as a national framework for coordinated digital transformation across sectors including education, health, agriculture, taxation, social protection, energy, logistics, and public service delivery.
The minister expressed hope that consultations with provinces would be completed before the federal budget to ensure better alignment of priorities, implementation readiness, and resource allocation for the next fiscal year.
Participants also reviewed a proposal to introduce a dedicated digital transformation section in the PC-1 planning documents for new development projects, similar to existing environmental assessment requirements. The proposal aims to integrate technology adoption and digital systems into projects from the planning stage.
Officials said the NDMP envisions transforming Pakistan into a digitally connected economy through investments in digital infrastructure, nationwide connectivity, digital skills development, innovation ecosystems, and modern governance systems.
Speaking at the meeting, Ahad Cheema said the public would benefit directly from the initiative by gaining easier access to government services with reduced human intervention and improved transparency. He added that citizens would increasingly be able to access essential public services digitally without visiting government offices.
