Pakistan’s push toward digital transformation cannot succeed if the state continues to run on fragile paperwork, scattered databases and processes that people do not trust. In such an environment, blockchain should be seen less as a trendy upgrade and more as a practical infrastructure choice because it directly targets the country’s most stubborn governance weaknesses: unreliable records, unclear financial trails and disputes over the integrity of high-stakes systems.
Blockchain is widely mistaken as “just crypto”, but its real value lies elsewhere. It offers a way to build systems where records are shared, verifiable and extremely difficult to tamper with. When information cannot be quietly altered after the fact, transparency improves, accountability becomes traceable and corruption finds fewer dark corners to hide in.
A well-designed blockchain-based framework can strengthen digital identity, ensuring citizens have secure, portable credentials that reduce duplication and fraud. It can protect healthcare records, making them consistent across hospitals while preserving integrity and auditability. It can also support public registries including land, property, taxation, licensing, etc. Even sensitive areas like e-voting can benefit, provided the approach is cautious, legally grounded and built with independent oversight.
Beyond governance, blockchain adoption can become an economic lever. When digital systems are trusted, investors trust institutions more. When new infrastructure is built, new skills are required i.e. creating demand for developers, auditors, cybersecurity experts, compliance professionals and digital policy specialists. That is exactly the kind of job ecosystem Pakistan needs: scalable, modern and tied to global markets.
However, technology is not a shortcut to reform. If adoption is rushed, poorly regulated or captured by narrow interests, it can become another expensive distraction. The priority should not be headlines or hype; it should be citizen benefit: better services, lower leakage, faster verification and stronger accountability.
For nationwide blockchain adoption, Pakistan needs strong guardrails: data protection, legal recognition of digital records, ethics, independent audits and digital literacy. Done right, blockchain can rebuild trust and improve governance. So it’s a necessity now, not later!
Dr Inktikhab Ulfat
Karach
