PM Imran launches 'Digital Pakistan' initiative

Prime Minister Imran Khan launched on Thursday ‘Digital Pakistan’, a government's initiative aimed at introducing latest technology for public welfare.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony in Islamabad, the premier said the campaign will “unleash the youth’s potential” in the country.

“E-governance is necessary to curb corruption, which is rampant across the country at all levels, and this initiative will ease the lives of the citizens,” he said. “Our government will put all out efforts to promote Digital Pakistan. The future of Pakistan is very exciting.”

He added, “Developments [in the digital arena] are taking place at a fast pace, and in the times to come everything would be done through a mobile phone.”

The vision sets Pakistan’s digital ambition and has been designed  both for the government and the private sector to work towards a digitally progressive and inclusive Pakistan.

According to a statement, it brings together multiple initiatives that the government has already kicked off, and identifies additional focus areas that it will initiate in the coming months.

Its strategic pillars are access and connectivity, digital infrastructure, digital skill and literacy, innovation and entrepreneurship.

These pillars, the communique added, supported by a forward-looking policy and a broader legal framework, will "set us on the path to becoming a truly Digital Pakistan".

• Access and Connectivity to ensure every Pakistani has access to internet - a fundamental right - to make available universally and especially to underserved populations


• Digital Infrastructure that creates the ability to undertake daily tasks using smartphones in a secure and faster manner


• E-government that digitizes intra-government operations and processes towards a paperless and efficient environment, and also digitizes government services for citizens and businesses for better delivery


• Digital Skills and Literacy that enables tech graduates to secure relevant jobs


• Innovation and Entrepreneurship to provide an enabling environment for startups to flourish

Tania Aidrus, a Pakistani working as a senior executive at Google, quit her position in Singapore to head the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government's initiative.

In a tweet, she expressed hope that Digital Pakistan vision will soon become a “reality”.

“Thank you PM @ImranKhanPTI and @JahangirKTareen for giving me the opportunity to contribute back to Pakistan,” Aidrus tweeted. “With everyone's support we will inshallah make #DigitalPakistan vision a reality...".