Summary
- Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja informed the National Assembly on Thursday that the government is moving forward with a comprehensive agenda to accelerate digital transformation, strengthen cybersecurity, and safeguard the digital rights of citizens across Pakistan.
- According to Shaza Fatima, the Pakistan Digital Authority will be responsible for drafting a comprehensive national digital master plan.
- On cybersecurity preparedness, Shaza Fatima informed the house that Pakistan already has a national cybersecurity framework in place to protect government networks and public-sector digital infrastructure.
Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja informed the National Assembly on Thursday that the government is moving forward with a comprehensive agenda to accelerate digital transformation, strengthen cybersecurity, and safeguard the digital rights of citizens across Pakistan.
During the question hour in the lower house of parliament, the minister outlined several policy measures and legislative steps aimed at building a modern digital ecosystem. She told lawmakers that the country had enacted the Digital Nation Pakistan Act 2025, marking the first major legal framework designed to guide Pakistan’s digital development strategy.
Under this legislation, the government has created two key institutions — the Pakistan Digital Authority and the National Digital Commission — to oversee and coordinate digital initiatives at the national level.
The minister explained that the National Digital Commission will be chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and will include chief ministers of all four provinces, federal cabinet members, and representatives from relevant regulatory bodies. The structure, she said, has been designed to ensure that digital policy decisions reflect input from both federal and provincial governments.
According to Shaza Fatima, the Pakistan Digital Authority will be responsible for drafting a comprehensive national digital master plan. Once prepared, the plan will be presented to the National Digital Commission for approval. She added that major decisions related to digital governance and transformation will be taken under the leadership of the prime minister, with participation from key stakeholders across the country.
Highlighting the government’s push toward emerging technologies, the minister also referred to the recently approved National AI Policy, which she described as a significant step toward positioning Pakistan as a digitally advanced nation.
She said the artificial intelligence policy is built around six core pillars, including infrastructure development, innovation, skill training, responsible use, and the safe and ethical deployment of AI technologies. The framework aims to encourage innovation while also ensuring that technological growth does not compromise public safety or ethical standards.
The minister noted that the policy also addresses modern digital challenges such as misinformation, disinformation, protection of children in online spaces, and the privacy rights of citizens. Special attention, she said, has been given to reducing bias in AI systems and ensuring transparency in automated decision-making.
On cybersecurity preparedness, Shaza Fatima informed the house that Pakistan already has a national cybersecurity framework in place to protect government networks and public-sector digital infrastructure. As part of these efforts, Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) have been established at both federal and provincial levels.
These teams operate in coordination with the National Telecommunication and Information Security Board to detect cyber threats, prevent hacking attempts, and respond to incidents such as phishing attacks targeting government systems and sensitive data.
Discussing the digitization of government operations, the minister said the federal government has implemented the e-Office platform, which has significantly reduced reliance on paper-based documentation.
She noted that the system has shortened the average file processing time from nearly 25 days to about four days, improving administrative efficiency and transparency. The prime minister is also able to monitor government performance through real-time digital dashboards. Parliament, courts, and more than 40 federal departments are gradually integrating into the e-Office framework as part of the broader digital transition.
Addressing internet connectivity and digital access, the minister said Pakistan has recently connected three new submarine internet cables to enhance international bandwidth capacity and improve internet reliability.
She further announced that the government plans to remove right-of-way charges for fiber-optic infrastructure, a move intended to accelerate the expansion of broadband networks and support faster internet connectivity throughout the country.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Seerat Fatima
Dieser Artikel ist neu veröffentlicht von / This article is republished from: Minute Mirror, 07.03.2026
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