Latest news with #DigitalEconomyEnhancementProject
Express Tribune
15-05-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Digital birth, death registration at hospitals launched
The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has launched a digital system for birth and death registration at hospitals and healthcare centres across the country. According to a NADRA spokesperson, agreements have been signed between NADRA and provincial governments to modernise the civil registration system. A formal signing ceremony was held in Karachi, where the Sindh secretary of health, the secretary of local government, and NADRA Sindh Director General Ehtesham Shahid signed the agreement. Sindh's Minister for Local Government Saeed Ghani was also present at the event. The spokesperson said that NADRA is working to upgrade the system of recording vital life events. With the introduction of this digital system, birth and death information can now be captured directly from hospitals and healthcare facilities. This will ensure timely, accurate, and comprehensive entry of data into the national citizen database. This initiative supports broader efforts under the "Udan Pakistan" programme, aimed at enhancing economic activity through technological integration. The collected data will play a key role in launching transformative projects such as digital ID services and expanding the digital economy. In collaboration with the World Bank, NADRA is also advancing the "Digital Economy Enhancement Project," working alongside various national institutions. A similar agreement was signed in Quetta between NADRA and the Balochistan government. The provincial health secretary, secretary of local government, and the director general of NADRA Balochistan were present for the signing.
Business Recorder
15-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
NADRA launches deployment of digital birth, death notification tools
ISLAMABAD: In a major step toward digital transformation, the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), in collaboration with provincial governments, has launched the nationwide deployment of digital birth and death notification tools in healthcare facilities. This initiative is part of the federal government's flagship 'Uraan Pakistan' programme, aimed at modernising the country's digital infrastructure. The new system, introduced under the National Registration and Biometric Policy Framework, enables real-time, accurate, and complete recording of vital life events—such as births and deaths—directly at the point of occurrence in hospitals and clinics. This digital transformation of the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) system is expected to significantly enhance data accuracy and service delivery across Pakistan. According to NADRA, the collected data will not only bolster national development planning but also support transformative projects like Digital ID and the Digital Economy. The system forms a core component of the broader Digital Economy Enhancement Project (DEEP), spearheaded by NADRA with support from the World Bank and other national stakeholders. To ensure seamless implementation across the country, formal agreements are being signed between NADRA and provincial as well as regional governments. A recent signing ceremony in Karachi saw the Government of Sindh, represented by Provincial Minister for Local Government Saeed Ghani, join the initiative. The agreement was signed by the Secretaries of Health and Local Government on behalf of Sindh, and the Director General of NADRA Karachi. Earlier, a similar agreement was signed in Quetta between NADRA and the Government of Balochistan, represented by the respective provincial secretaries and the DG NADRA Balochistan. Further agreements with Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the governments of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) are expected to follow in the coming days, paving the way for a unified, digital civil registration system across Pakistan. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
21-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Pakistan to expand fiber connectivity to 7.5m homes in five years
A dedicated Project Management Unit (PMU) is being recruited to oversee the policy's development. PHOTO: PEXELS Listen to article Pakistan plans to dramatically enhance its digital infrastructure by extending fiber-optic connectivity to 7.5 million households and achieving 80 percent fiber-to-the-site (FTTS) coverage within the next five years, the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication (MoITT) announced. These goals form a central part of the upcoming National Fiberization Policy, being crafted under the Digital Economy Enhancement Project (DEEP). The initiative aims to bolster the country's fixed broadband infrastructure and raise average download speeds to 60 Mbps nationwide. A dedicated Project Management Unit (PMU) is being recruited to oversee the policy's development. Once established, the PMU will hire a consultancy firm through a competitive bidding process to assist in finalizing the policy framework. This strategic move is designed to prepare Pakistan for emerging technologies like 5G and the Internet of Things (IoT), while also ensuring robust digital connectivity. The policy emphasizes private sector investment and aims to eliminate long-standing deployment barriers by focusing on key areas such as rationalizing right-of-way (RoW) charges, streamlining approval procedures, and encouraging infrastructure sharing. According to MoITT, Pakistan currently has over 211,000 kilometers of deployed optical fiber cable, split between 75,967 km of long-haul and 135,506 km of metro fiber. However, officials say this infrastructure is insufficient to meet rising demand and evolving technological needs. The Telecom Wing of MoITT is leading the policy development in collaboration with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and industry stakeholders. A series of consultations are planned to develop cost-sharing models and single-window clearance systems. The policy also aligns with broader economic goals, promoting local manufacturing of fiber-optic components to reduce import reliance. The final draft of the National Fiberization Policy is expected to be completed by the end of the year, setting the stage for a digitally connected and future-ready Pakistan.
Express Tribune
16-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
IT sector performance reviewed, but challenges ignored
Listen to article The Ministry of Information Technology has presented a rosy picture of Pakistan's telecom sector while ignoring the pains and sufferings of consumers due to the slow internet speed following the installation of a firewall. While presenting the performance of the IT and telecom ministry, Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja presented a one-year review of the IT and telecom sector in a recent meeting of the federal cabinet. She said that in the last year, broadband subscribers grew from 127.6 to 142.3 million, telecom revenues increased from Rs817 billion to Rs955 billion, local mobile phone manufacturing rose from 21.28 million to 31.38 million devices and cell site connectivity with fibre expanded by 12%. She also noted that the telecom sector contributed Rs341 billion to the national exchequer. However, she did not disclose the entire picture as the businesses of those related to the IT industry had either been shut down or they were near bankruptcy. Several entrepreneurs had shifted their offices to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to slow internet speed, which occurred following the installation of a firewall. Even the telecom operators suffered multibillion-rupee losses because of the shifting of their customers to different networks in the wake of slow internet speed. The software association had informed the government during the installation of the firewall that they had suffered a loss of $500 million. Additionally, the freelancers' network Fiver had issued an advisory to its customers not to hire services of freelancers from Pakistan. Freelancers lost their clients due to the disruption in communications. Currently, several countries like the UAE and some European Union (EU) states were offering visas to digital marketers, especially those who were receiving earnings online to attract influencers so that they could contribute to their income. However, the case of Pakistan is different as the country's IT policies are going in the reverse direction to the detriment of the IT and telecom sector. The report submitted by the IT minister to the cabinet missed all those facts and figures, which caused severe pain to those businesses that were related to the IT sector. The IT minister also informed the cabinet that it was mentioned that 813 mauzas had been connected to the internet through 2,000 km of optic fibre cables and IT-related exports had surged 27% compared to the previous fiscal year. Furthermore, with the help of eight incubation centres across the country, 229 start-ups, with an investment of Rs2.04 billion, got the services of these centres. Regarding the digital transformation of the economy, governance and society, the minister informed the forum that 42 divisions and 176 departments had switched to e-office and the Digital Economy Enhancement Project (DEEP) had been launched to digitalise government services. She highlighted that all those advancements had been made through the introduction of a series of policy frameworks and enactments. Digital skills among youth Regarding the development of digital skills, the minister stated that around 300,000 training sessions had been completed in one year, with plans to double the number in the future. She added that 1,000 interns had been placed in the ICT internship programme and the Digital Pakistan Cyber Security Hackathon was organised in 2024, attracting 6,443 participants. The minister noted that IT parks were under construction in Karachi and Islamabad while several Software Technology Parks (STPs) had been completed in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Express Tribune
13-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
NADRA's digital ID card: Here's how it will benefit citizens
Listen to article Pakistan is poised to take a giant leap toward a digital future with the launch of its first 'Dematerialised Digital Identity Card' under the World Bank-funded Digital Economy Enhancement Project (DEEP). This initiative will streamline the authentication process for a wide range of services, with a pilot programme scheduled to launch on August 14, 2025. The key benefits offered by the digital identity card include revolutionising how citizens access government services. Integrated with the Pak ID app, users will be able to carry a digital version of their ID on their smartphones, offering a more convenient and secure alternative to physical cards. The system will soon incorporate digital verification processes to further enhance the authentication of services. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi highlighted the extensive reach of NADRA's identity services, ensuring accessibility even in Pakistan's remotest regions and for overseas Pakistanis. He also acknowledged NADRA's role in supporting governance, law enforcement, and national security efforts. Digital identity card marks a significant step in the country's digital future, aiming to streamline services and improve security for millions of citizens, Naqvi added. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised NADRA's efforts to empower citizens and foster economic growth through data integration and artificial intelligence. He emphasised that these digital solutions are crucial in promoting inclusivity and driving Pakistan's economic development.
