ISLAMABAD, Feb 25 (APP): Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja on Wednesday said digital transformation was central to Pakistan’s governance, economic growth, and societal development, emphasizing that the government was actively steering the country toward a paperless and cashless future.
Addressing the two-day Pakistan Governance Forum 2026, themed “Reimagining Governance for URAAN Pakistan,” she described information technology and tax reforms as critical components of the government’s broader reform agenda, including the vision of e-Pakistan under the Uraan Pakistan initiative.
She said that technology was reshaping governance models globally, with governments worldwide transitioning to digital systems.
“Pakistan is witnessing the same paradigm shift,” she said, adding that the federal government was now operating through an e-Office system, eliminating paper-based file movement and manual signatures.
The minister said the Supreme Court of Pakistan had also adopted the e-Office system, while Parliament was in the process of transitioning.
Similar systems, she said, were being extended to the governments of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan to ensure a comprehensive shift toward paperless governance.
Highlighting the Prime Minister’s agenda of promoting a cashless economy, she said last year’s Ramazan package was distributed through digital payments, resulting in the creation of more than 800,000 digital wallets for deserving women.
She termed the initiative a significant step toward digital and economic inclusion.
Shaza Fatima said formalizing the informal economy through digital systems would help expand the tax base, improve revenue collection, and contribute to GDP growth.
“Digital transformation in economic governance and societal structures is now the foundation of national development,” she added.
Referring to key legislative and policy measures, she cited the Digital Pakistan Act passed by Parliament last year and the National AI Policy approved by the Cabinet as major structural reforms introduced under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
She said these initiatives reflected the government’s commitment to long-term institutional transformation.
The minister expressed confidence that the reforms would significantly transform Pakistan in the coming years and urged the youth to actively participate in the country’s digital journey.
She emphasized the importance of equipping young people with digital skills to prepare them for the evolving technological era.