Govt aims to provide citizens access to all public facilities under single digital ID: PM Shehbaz

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that the government’s vision for national digitalisation aims to provide citizens access to all public facilities under a single digital identity.

Chairing a review meeting in Islamabad on the implementation of a national-level integrated digital policy framework, PM Shehbaz said that implementing this vision in line with modern-day demands held “key importance” in forming an integrated society, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

“After the full implementation of the national digital vision, citizens will be able to access all public facilities, including government verification of documents, banking services, health, transfers, and all other facilities, under a single digital ID at one place,” the statement cited the premier as saying.

It added that a meeting of the National Digital Commission (NDC) should be convened soon in order to take all stakeholders into confidence on the policy, including the provinces.

The prime minister directed that the digital vision first be implemented in priority sectors including health, agriculture, utilities, housing, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to provide better facilities to the public “as soon as possible”.

After its implementation in the housing sector, a central identification number will be available for all private and public properties, according to the briefing.

“The implementation of the digital system in the SMEs sector will establish an integrated system for the unique legal identity of businesses, which will contribute to an increase in the country’s overall production,” it said.

The PMO statement added that all legal, administrative and institutional measures for the vision’s full implementation were being completed “rapidly”, with input being sought from international experts and organisations alongside prevailing best global practices.

The premier directed “immediate and effective measures” to make the facilities of the newly established central data centre, Sky 47, available to all federal institutions. The data centre was inaugurated last week and has a capacity of 8.5 megawatts.

According to PM Shehbaz, a centralised data centre at the national level in the public sector alone would provide a focal point for data of all institutions, while preventing various institutions from establishing separate data centres would save national resources.

“The Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA) is determining an active, prepared, and revolutionary direction for government services and the social system, particularly in providing urban facilities to the public,” the statement added.

It termed the ongoing work on the digital vision “commendable”, saying that effective implementation of the policy would ensure global partnerships and effective representation of the country on international forums. Additionally, institutional decision-making, performance, and transparency would become aligned with international standards.

In addition to agriculture, food, health, energy, housing and SMEs, the statement noted that work is underway on 14 other priority sectors on PM Shehbaz’s directives. These would improve sectoral performance and positively impact the national economy, industry, and trade, it said.

The meeting was also attended by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Cheema, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kiani, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Jameel Ahmad, and officials from relevant government institutions, according to the PMO.

The NDC was established under the Digital Nation Pakistan Act 2025. It is headed by the prime minister, with all provincial chief ministers as its members.

Last week, the premier launched a new artificial intelligence (AI)-based digitisation platform for the PMO, designed to replace paper-based working in governance.

Earlier this month, Pakistan became a founding member of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (Waico) after Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar signed the agreement establishing the forum in Shanghai, China, according to the Foreign Office.

In February, PM Shehbaz announced that the government would invest $1 billion in the country’s AI sector by 2030 to build a future-ready digital economy and empower the country’s youth. ...