Islamabad, 8 October, 2026 (Nosheen): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has directed all federal ministries to complete, within the stipulated timeframe, measures for digitizing relevant data in coordination with provincial governments and concerned institutions and ensure its timely provision to the central data centre under the Digital Nation Pakistan initiative. Chairing a progress review meeting on the implementation of the Digital Nation Pakistan Programme, the prime minister said the national-level central data centre would play a key role in improving government services and providing facilities to citizens. He said clearly defined responsibilities of federal ministries, along with the provision of relevant data to the central data centre, would help bring the government system in line with modern requirements. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the programme was aimed at ensuring efficient and convenient services for citizens at the national level, adding that making useful data from various sectors and government institutions available at one place could significantly contribute to the country’s economic development. Referring to the fuel subsidy scheme for deserving segments of society, he said data sharing among institutions had played an important role in its successful implementation. He emphasized that digitization of ministry performance and relevant data was essential to prevent corruption and institutional mismanagement. The prime minister appreciated the Ministry of Health for taking commendable steps, in collaboration with provincial governments, towards establishing universal medical records at the national level. He also appreciated the implementation of QR codes to ensure the availability and verification of quality medicines across the country.
The Ministry of Information Technology briefed the meeting that comprehensive measures were being taken for sector-specific digitization with the active cooperation of relevant ministries. The meeting was informed that, keeping public convenience in view, digitization in basic service sectors, particularly health and agriculture, was being completed on a priority basis. The Ministry of Information Technology, in collaboration with the Ministry of Law, was also taking effective measures to make relevant national laws available at one place, which would provide better guidance for future legislation. The meeting was further informed that work was underway on the digitization of priority sectors in accordance with the prime minister’s directives, with special measures being taken to achieve the objectives of digital government services, a digital economy and digital public facilitation. Representatives of different federal ministries briefed the meeting on their public services, performance and progress in providing relevant data to the central data centre. A special briefing was also given on the provision of data related to the Ministry of National Health Services to the central data centre and the use of digitization for verification of the quality of medicines. Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar, Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Minister for National Health Services Syed Mustafa Kamal, Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja and senior officials of relevant government institutions attended the meeting.