Latest news with #MinistryofInformationTechnologyandTelecommunication
Business Recorder
31-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
World Bank-supported DEEP: Govt to hire consultancy firm for digital framework
ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to hire consultancy firm for Citizen-Centric Service Insights, Analysis & Complete Assessment for Digitalization under the Digital Economy Enhancement Project (DEEP) worth $77.73 million. The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication in collaboration with the World Bank is implementing DEEP. The main objective of the programme is 'to enhance the government's capacity for digitally enabled public services delivery for citizens and businesses.' The objective of this consultancy is to support the development and implementation of the National Citizen Portal in Pakistan by conducting a comprehensive assessment of public services, identifying gaps, and designing a scalable and interoperable digital framework. This includes compiling an extensive service inventory across federal and provincial agencies, prioritising services for digitisation through a structured gap analysis, and establishing a robust service architecture that ensures seamless integration between government systems. The consultancy will also focus on business process reengineering to enhance service efficiency and user experience while ensuring compliance with national standards and regulations The DEEP proposes a whole of government approach to develop the framework and technology that will increase access to and promote the use of digital services across Pakistan. The project will develop Pakistan Digital Government Enterprise Architecture, which will create a government ecosystem transcending existing processes and siloed departments, including by mapping roles and responsibilities and setting key principles across technology, business, information, and service design. This digitalisation will not only provide ease to citizens and businesses but would also enable higher degree of transparency, lower the cost of processing, and increase the tax collection capabilities of the federal and provincial governments which is one of the priority focus areas of the government. The scope of work for this consultancy firm includes the comprehensive assessment, design, and implementation support for the National Citizen Portal in Pakistan. This involves compiling an exhaustive inventory of public services across federal and provincial agencies, conducting a gap analysis to prioritise services for digitisation, and designing a scalable service architecture that ensures interoperability between government systems. The consultancy will also focus on reengineering business processes to improve efficiency and user experience, while coordinating with relevant stakeholders to ensure alignment with national standards and regulations. The consultancy firm will be responsible for providing a robust super app and web portal framework based on a scalable and secure architecture to integrate citizen services across the country. This includes customisation to meet diverse user needs and government requirements, ensuring multi-channel service access across mobile, web, and other digital platforms for a seamless user experience. The firm must also ensure data security and privacy protocols to safeguard user information while complying with local/international data and cybersecurity standards. Additionally, it will be responsible for digital payment integration to facilitate secure and efficient financial transactions. Compliance with legal and regulatory requirements is essential to align with national and international frameworks. Furthermore, the firm must provide comprehensive reporting and documentation to maintain transparency and support informed decision-making processes. The consultancy firm shall conduct comprehensive risk and vulnerability assessments to identify potential security threats and areas of risk. It will ensure strict compliance with relevant data protection and security regulations or laws. Additionally, the firm will perform thorough penetration testing and complete end-to-end system testing to validate the security and resilience of the platform. The consultancy firm shall implement robust quality assurance processes to ensure the National Citizen Portal meets the highest standards of functionality, performance, security, and user experience. This includes defining and executing comprehensive test plans, conducting rigorous testing at every stage of development, and verifying that the portal complies with defined requirements, regulatory standards, and industry best practices. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
20-07-2025
- Express Tribune
Capital schools to get high-speed internet
The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication will provide high-speed internet and fibre-optic connectivity to 532 schools in Islamabad. According to an official from the Ministry, the government has declared early education in artificial intelligence (AI), computer science, and emerging technologies a national priority. This move is part of the Prime Minister's vision for a "Digital Nation Pakistan," focused on building a skilled and future-ready workforce. The official added that the government is also working to improve the quality of education, aiming to help school and college graduates become more employable. To support this, a high-level committee has been formed to review the current IT curriculum, emphasising job-oriented skills. Although education is provincial, the Higher Education Commission (HEC), the Ministry of Education, and the National Curriculum Council are jointly upgrading the national syllabus. As part of these reforms, the government is reviewing AI and IT curricula for students from grade 6 to 12. Over 100 model schools and colleges have already been equipped with smart classrooms, labs, and digital screens, the official said, adding that the government also plans to expand digital education to remote areas through EdTech and hybrid learning models.
Express Tribune
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Senate extends privilege report deadline
The Senate on Monday granted an extension for the presentation of a report by the Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges regarding a privilege motion filed against an official of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication. Senator Syed Waqar Mehdi, Chairman of the Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges, moved the motion under Rule 194(1) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate, 2012, seeking a 60-day extension with effect from June 17, 2025. The motion relates to a privilege issue raised by a number of MPs including Senators Palwasha, Mohammed Zai Khan, Dr AfnanUllah Khan and Saifullah Sarwar Khan Nyazee.
Arab News
30-04-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Riyadh-based digital bloc says Pakistan's 2026 presidency to boost country's global tech standing
ISLAMABAD: The Secretary-General of the Riyadh-based Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), Deemah AlYahya, said on Tuesday Pakistan's forthcoming presidency of the multilateral body was part of ongoing efforts to position the country as a regional and global digital leader. Founded in November 2020, the DCO is an intergovernmental organization aimed at accelerating digital transformation and encouraging collaboration among member states. The organization's founding members include Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait and Pakistan, with Nigeria and Oman joining shortly thereafter. Pakistan is scheduled to assume the DCO presidency in 2026, following Kuwait's term in 2025. AlYahya, a Saudi digital economy expert and the organization's Secretary-General since April 2021, is responsible for engaging with heads of state, ministers and private sector leaders to bridge digital divides across member nations. She is currently in Islamabad for a two-day Digital Foreign Direct Investment (DFDI) summit, organized by Pakistan's Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication in collaboration with the DCO. The event has attracted over 400 delegates and more than 200 IT and telecom companies from over 30 countries. 'The presidency of Pakistan that is planned for 2026 for DCO is a continuous effort for positioning Pakistan as the digital powerhouse for the region and for the globe as well,' the DCO secretary-general told Arab News in an exclusive conversation on the sidelines of the forum in Islamabad. She said Pakistan's leadership role would not only benefit the country in terms of infrastructure and technological advancement but also put it in a position where it will be able to support other countries to grow as well. 'The DCO is working to open markets for enterprises across all member states, enabling smooth and healthy cross-border collaboration, so Pakistan will have a leading role in making such kind of advancement happen,' she added. AlYahya said that seeing the youth and the growth in Pakistan's digital sector gave her a great sense of optimism. 'It gives us a lot of motivation to put hands in hands with all our member countries and utilize the amazing advancement in each and every country,' she added. She noted that DCO believed every country had a unique competitive advantage that can help address challenges faced by others, adding it was her organization's role to identify these imperatives, strengths and areas for improvement. 'The Digital FDI event here in Pakistan … is one example of how can we explore the competitive advantage of the great infrastructure, youth, talent, the advancement in software and hardware here in Pakistan and attract the private sector to harness these opportunities in the land of Pakistan,' she added. Pakistan's IT exports reached a record $3.2 billion in FY2024, reflecting a 24 percent increase from the previous year, according to the State Bank of Pakistan. In the first half of the current fiscal year (FY2025), exports rose further to $1.86 billion, up 28 percent year-on-year, with monthly figures averaging around $310 million. This growth trajectory is underpinned by a number of factors, including an expanding global client base, particularly in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. Pakistan is now aiming to cross the $4 billion mark in IT exports by the end of FY2025.
Business Recorder
23-04-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Space technology: PM expresses his desire to enhance ties with China
ISLAMABAD: Calling Beijing as a 'very trusted friend' and 'strategic partner', Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday that the country is seeking to deepen its cooperation with China in the field of space technology. The prime minister made the remarks during a meeting with a delegation of Chinese aerospace firm Galaxy Space led by its chairman Xu Ming. He said that Pakistan hopes to expand joint efforts with China in areas such as satellite development, telecommunications, and satellite internet, adding the country places 'great importance' on advancing its space technology capabilities. Tiangong: Pakistan to send first astronaut to China's space station Members of the visiting delegation expressed a strong interest in investing in Pakistan's growing space sector and exploring collaborative projects with national space institutions and private telecom operators. They also held meetings with Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication officials, as well as Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) – Pakistan's national space agency – which they described as 'very productive'. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
