PM Shehbaz announces plan to digitize Pakistan’s national economy

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday decided to fully digitize Pakistan’s economy and directed the concerned ministries and institutions to intensify efforts in this regard.

The prime minister stressed that economic recovery and elimination of the informal and parallel economy are key components of the government’s reform agenda.

The Prime Minister’s Office said that a high-level review meeting on the digitalization of the economy was chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad.

The meeting was briefed that under the prime minister’s directives, the recent Ramadan relief package was successfully delivered through a fully digital system. Updates were also shared on ongoing and future initiatives to digitize the economy.

It was further informed that an ICT application has been launched in Islamabad that provides access to over 150 government services.

Officials also reported a significant increase in the volume of transactions through the RAST gateway. The government, in collaboration with the State Bank, is accelerating measures to increase its use for routine transactions.

The forum was briefed on the five-point government strategy, which includes ensuring digital receipt of payments and encouraging businesses and consumers to opt for digital transactions over cash. Various facilities will be provided to encourage this transition.

The PM Office also said that all government payments, including salaries and billing, are now being processed through the digital system. Plans for a comprehensive awareness campaign and real-time data monitoring were also discussed.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appreciated the successful implementation of the digital wallet system for the distribution of the Ramadan package and directed that similar models be expanded to other sectors.

He reiterated that improving the national economy and eliminating the informal economy are central to the government’s reform efforts. “We are integrating reforms at the institutional level to ensure sustainable and long-term change. We are modernizing the system to pave the way for Pakistan’s development,” he said.

The prime minister directed the immediate formation of a dedicated working group to oversee and implement all digitalization initiatives.

The meeting was attended by federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Ali Pervaiz Malik, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani, Governor State Bank Jamil Ahmed and other senior officials.