Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday approved a search and selection committee to recommend the appointment of members of the Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA) under the law of Pakistan of the Digital Nation.
Promulgated in January of this year, the law aimed to transform Pakistan into a “digital nation” by allowing a digital society, digital economy and digital governance. The bill was approved by the federal cabinet in June 2024.
The bill said it was convenient to allow people to become a digital nation taking advantage of the transforming power of digital technologies, the responsible use of the data, innovative models for the provision of services and digital public infrastructure Robusta to accelerate sustainable economic development, improve the well -being of citizens and modernize governance frameworks for a provision of efficient and effective public services.
According to a notification issued today by the Ministry of IT and Telecommunications, “the Search Committee will appoint a president and two members of the PDA.”
The Federal Minister for you, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, has been appointed coordinator of the Search Committee.
The Committee will recommend three candidates for each position and make recommendations regarding the salaries and benefits of the president and the members.
Other members of the Committee include the Federal Minister for the Division of Economic Affairs, as well as the Secretaries of the Cabinet Division, the Division of Establishment and IT and Telecommunications Division.
The Digital Nation bill covers the establishment of three new bodies. The PDA will include a president and two members, to develop, implement and monitor the National Digital Master Plan. This authority will also establish a monitoring and evaluation framework for digital transformation projects.
The Sratéguros Supervision Committee will be headed by the IT Minister, with IT secretaries, finance and planning, and private sector representatives as its members.
When approved, the president of the NA Committee, Syed Aminul, highlighted the importance of approveing the bill, stating that it was essential to transform Pakistan into a digital nation.
“The objective is to create a progressive digital society, as well as promote a prosperous digital economy, for which we need to establish a shared digital governance ecosystem,” said Hoca, added that all measures should not be seen through political lens.
He stressed that digitalization was a technical issue, a need for times.
