Cabinet approves establishment of Digital Commission & Pakistan Digital Authority

ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet on Tuesday principally approved the Digital Nation Pakistan Act 2024 providing for the establishment of the National Digital Commission and Pakistan Digital Authority besides ensuring digitisation of national economy and paperless governance.

As per the details, a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif asked the Law Ministry to conduct the necessary review of the Act, which also aims to digitize the services sector as per international standards.

Under the Act, the National Digital Commission will function as a policy-making body, headed by the Prime Minister and comprising federal and provincial members.

Further, Pakistan Digital Authority will be established to achieve the objectives of Digital Pakistan. Being a corporate body, the Authority will have financial and administrative autonomy.

Briefing the members about his recent visit to China and his meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, the Prime Minister mentioned his discussions with the Chinese leadership on the second phase of CPEC-II. He said that a high-powered Chinese delegation will visit Pakistan to further expand bilateral cooperation.

He told the meeting that B2B meetings were held between businessmen and investors of Pakistan and China at Pakistan China Business Forum in Shenzhen.

Prime Minister Shehbaz said that the government will send about 1,000 youth to China for vocational training in innovations and technology in the agricultural sector. Additionally, Huawei will also train 200,000 Pakistani youth annually in various fields of information technology.

The Federal Cabinet approved the appointment of members of the National School for Public Policy from the public and private educational sectors.

On the recommendation of the Ministry of Human Rights, a cabinet committee was formed to appoint a member from Islamabad in the National Commission for Human Rights.

The meeting also approved in principle the signing of an MoU between the National Accountability Bureau and the Sri Lankan Commission to investigate allegations of bribery and corruption under the Arbitration Bill 2024 and relevant consultations with the provinces under Article 144 of the Constitution. To promote cooperation against bribery and illegality. cash flow.

The Federal Cabinet approved the decisions of the Cabinet Committee on State Owned Enterprises made on 13 and 20 May 2024, the decisions of the Economic Coordination Committee on 23 and 27 May 2024 and the decisions of the Cabinet Committee on Legislation made on 5 June.