ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister Ahad Cheema has said the government is ready to launch the National Digital Plan (NDP). The plan has three main parts: digital governance, digital economy, and digital society. The goal is to help growth in every sector.
Cheema said this while leading a meeting on the Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA). Federal IT Minister Shaza Fatima and the PDA Chairman also attended the meeting.
The minister said his ministry is trying hard to put the master plan on the agenda of the next meeting between provincial chief ministers and the Prime Minister.
In the meeting, participants talked about discussions held with provincial IT departments and other stakeholders on the National Digital Master Plan. Cheema said the aim is to build a national digital framework while respecting provincial matters. He added that better coordination on data and records can help government offices get reliable, verified information and plan public services better.
The minister stressed that digitalisation and AI should bring real results in government and help every sector grow. He said the PDA’s sector-wise plans should have clear outcomes and realistic timelines. The sector-wise agenda — including health, education, and commerce — will be reviewed at the Authority’s next meeting.
On education, Cheema said there is a need for a clear roadmap to teach modern digital and AI skills in schools, including for primary and middle-grade students. He said students should learn future-ready skills through formal education.
On healthcare, the meeting discussed unified patient records and a registry to keep clinical histories and treatment information across public and private hospitals. The minister said a computerised, CNIC-based system could make patient records easy to access and help continue care.
The PDA said there is a need for dedicated AI experts and digitally trained focal persons in ministries and divisions to support digital transformation and help collect and use reliable data.
Senator Cheema said existing IT staff should be trained for these roles. He also noted that the Establishment Division has a pool of people available through e-Office who could be trained and posted to support the government’s digitalisation work. More talks on staffing will be held with the Establishment Division.
The PDA agreed to work with the National Information Technology Board (NITB) on training. It also told the meeting that it is already working with federal divisions to strengthen digital capacity.
Senator Cheema praised the PDA’s role in launching the Prime Minister’s Fuel Relief Scheme, its work on the PMOS system, and other projects. He said the Authority’s efforts should be extended to more areas of government to give real benefits to the public.
