PM Shehbaz directs acceleration of digital reforms

Islamabad (Web Desk): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for greater focus on delivering government services to citizens through simple, efficient and up-to-date digital platforms, directing the National Information Technology Board (NITB) to make public facilitation a central priority.

He issued the directives while presiding over a meeting in Islamabad to assess reforms being carried out at the NITB and review the latest progress on the Islamabad Technology Park project.

PM Shehbaz directed all concerned departments to coordinate closely so that people can access government services in a timely, transparent and hassle-free manner.

He stressed that making public services easier to obtain remains a major priority of the government.

PM Shehbaz also ordered further improvements to government digital platforms so they meet current technological and public-service requirements.

He described the conversion of federal ministries to the e-office system as one of the government's key initiatives in the areas of information technology and digital transformation.

The premier directed that the system should also be implemented across all subordinate departments and federal government-owned enterprises.

He called for the digital transformation of government institutions to be accelerated and urged authorities to take full advantage of modern technologies. He also instructed officials to complete the digital recording of all government property at the earliest possible time.

Expressing concern over the delay in completing the Islamabad Technology Park, PM Shehbaz ordered that work on the project be finished without further delay and that the facility become operational on a priority basis. He further directed that the park's operations be fully outsourced.

The meeting was informed that the NITB has already undergone right-sizing, while recruitment for important positions is being carried out through a transparent process.

Officials told the meeting that all federal ministries have now been transferred to the e-office system, with efforts continuing to extend its adoption to other departments and government-owned enterprises.

The participants were also briefed on the current status and construction progress of the Islamabad Technology Park.