ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday directed all federal ministries to complete the digitisation of their relevant data within stipulated deadlines and ensure its provision to a central national digital platform under the Digital Nation Pakistan programme.
Chairing a review meeting on progress in implementing the programme across federal ministries, the prime minister said a national central data centre would play a key role in delivering government services and citizen facilities, while integrating useful data from different sectors and government institutions could contribute to economic development.
He said the responsibilities of federal ministries, together with the timely provision of their relevant data to the central data centre, would help bring the government system in line with modern requirements.
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“The purpose of Digital Nation Pakistan is, in fact, to ensure effective and convenient services for citizens at the national level,” he said, adding that digitising ministry performance and related data could also help curb corruption and institutional disorder.
Referring to the fuel subsidy scheme for deserving sections of society, he said data sharing among institutions had played a key role in its successful implementation, demonstrating the importance of coordinated government databases.
The prime minister praised the Ministry of National Health Services for taking steps, in cooperation with provincial governments, towards compiling universal medical records.
He also termed the introduction of QR codes to help ensure the supply of quality medicines across the country a commendable initiative.
According to a briefing, the Ministry of Information Technology, with the cooperation of relevant ministries, was taking measures for sector-specific digitisation.
Digitisation in basic public-service sectors, particularly health and agriculture, was being completed on a priority basis to facilitate citizens.
The IT ministry was also working with the Ministry of Law to make relevant national laws available at a single platform, officials said. The initiative was aimed at providing better guidance for future legislation.
The meeting was informed that work was continuing on the digitisation of priority sectors in accordance with the prime minister’s directions, with special measures being taken to advance three key objectives: digital government services, a digital economy and digital public facilitation.
Various federal ministries briefed the meeting on their public services, performance and progress in providing relevant data to the central data centre.
The Ministry of National Health Services gave a special briefing on the provision of health-related data to the centre and the use of digitisation for quality verification of medicines.
The prime minister directed all federal ministries to complete the digitisation of their relevant data in coordination with provincial governments and other concerned institutions within the prescribed timeframe.
The meeting was attended by Law Minister Azam Tarar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Cheema, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, IT Minister Shaza Fatima and officials of relevant government institutions.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026