Sindh eyes provincial data centre

The Sindh government is moving ahead with plans to establish a state-of-the-art provincial data centre, with Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah directing relevant departments to prepare a comprehensive proposal and implementation roadmap in collaboration with the National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC).

The participants discussed cooperation in telecommunications, data management, cloud services, cybersecurity and digital governance. The chief minister was also briefed on NTC's nationwide ICT infrastructure, government-to-government projects and plans to expand its data centre facilities across the country.

Murad said Sindh was entering a new era of digital governance and technology-driven public administration, adding that the initiative was in line with commitments made in his recent budget speech to prioritise digital infrastructure, promote technological innovation and allocate dedicated resources for modernising provincial administration.

"Government data is a national asset. Its protection, management and accessibility are critical for effective governance, public trust and institutional efficiency. We want Sindh to lead in digital innovation and e-governance," the chief minister said.

He said the proposed data centre would provide secure data storage, cloud-based services and business continuity solutions for government departments while reducing operational risks and improving inter-departmental coordination.

Murad emphasised that the project would also help bridge the digital divide by expanding high-speed connectivity to rural and remote areas, improving access to healthcare, education and online public services. He said the centralised data facility and enhanced connectivity would also serve as the technological backbone for the province's upcoming Safe City project, enabling advanced surveillance, real-time data processing for law enforcement and more effective public safety management.

Calling the project a cornerstone of Sindh's digital transformation strategy, the chief minister said it would support future initiatives in artificial intelligence, smart governance, Safe City systems, digital records management and citizen-centric service delivery.

He directed the Planning and Development Board, the Information Technology Department and the NTC to jointly prepare a detailed roadmap covering technical specifications, implementation timelines, governance mechanisms and future expansion requirements. He also stressed that the proposed facility should comply with international standards for cybersecurity, data protection and disaster recovery, adding that the project could be developed under a public-private partnership model with the NTC.