Day: July 29, 2026

Islamabad: Pakistan has laid stronger foundations for digital transformation through reforms in spectrum policy, progress in women’s digital inclusion, and improved digital governance, said Head of Asia Pacific, GSMA, Julian Gorman on Tuesday.

However, he was of the view that sustained investment, trusted digital infrastructure, and coordinated implementation will be essential to achieve the vision of Digital Pakistan 2030.

Presenting the Digital Pakistan 2030 report, Gorman said digital technologies had become key drivers of national productivity and competitiveness.

He added that Pakistan now had an opportunity to convert recent momentum into long-term economic growth through investment certainty, digital trust, future-ready infrastructure, and collaboration among government, industry, and development partners.

Referring to a new GSMA report, Gorman said the study highlighted Pakistan’s recent digital progress, outlined what success could look like by 2030, and identified five strategic priorities to transform current momentum into measurable outcomes.

Highlighting the country’s recent achievements, he said Pakistan had strengthened its investment environment by completing the 5G spectrum auction with improved terms, more balanced spectrum pricing, flexible payment mechanisms, and payments denominated in Pakistani rupees, creating greater certainty for future investment in digital infrastructure and 5G deployment.

Gorman said mobile broadband population coverage had reached 81 per cent, smartphone adoption had increased to 68pc, and urban mobile internet usage had risen to 37pc, according to the GSMA State of Digital Opportunities (SDO) Index 2025, enabling more citizens to participate in the digital economy.

He said Pakistan had also made significant progress in digital inclusion, with women’s mobile internet adoption increasing from 45pc to 53pc of the adult female population between 2024 and 2025, while the mobile internet gender gap narrowed from 25pc to 8pc, according to the GSMA Mobile Gender Gap Report 2025.

On digital governance, he said the enactment of the Digital Nation Pakistan Act 2025, the establishment of the Pakistan Digital Authority, the release of the draft National Data Governance Policy for consultation, and stronger whole-of-government coordination had further strengthened the country’s digital ecosystem.

He added that the launch of the National AI Policy, alongside digital transformation initiatives under Uraan Pakistan and Digital Nation Pakistan, demonstrated that the digital economy had become a national development priority.

Looking ahead to 2030, Gorman said Pakistan should aim to become a competitive, inclusive, and trusted digital economy supported by sustained private investment, resilient digital infrastructure, affordable and meaningful digital services, full participation of women and underserved communities, trusted data governance, secure digital networks, and AI-enabled public services.

He said achieving these goals would require clear ownership, measurable outcomes, and strong collaboration among government institutions, industry, and international development partners.

Outlining the report’s five strategic priorities, Gorman said Pakistan must unlock greater investment capacity by ensuring that taxation policies support long-term infrastructure investment.

He added that the mobile sector contributed about Rs. 278 billion in taxes and fees in 2025, equivalent to around 40pc of total sector revenues, underscoring the need to balance fiscal objectives with investment incentives.

On digital inclusion, he said the challenge had shifted beyond network availability to affordability, access to devices, digital skills, online safety, and social norms.

He said that literacy and digital skills remained the primary barriers for users, while 28pc of women mobile internet users still relied on someone else’s mobile device.

Gorman said preparing Pakistan for the AI economy would require coordinated investment in spectrum, fibre networks, cloud infrastructure, data centres, and resilient energy systems, together with streamlined regulatory approvals and infrastructure-sharing policies.

He said trusted digital infrastructure must be supported through stronger cybersecurity, effective data governance, online safety measures, anti-scam collaboration, and child protection.

He added that governments, telecom operators, financial institutions, technology companies, and digital platforms all shared responsibility for building public trust.

He also stressed that delivering Digital Pakistan 2030 would require moving beyond periodic consultations towards structured implementation mechanisms with clear institutional ownership, regular progress reviews, and close coordination among federal and provincial governments and international development partners.

“The future of Digital Pakistan will not be defined by the policies we announce, but by the outcomes we deliver-together, ” Gorman said.

During a question-and-answer session, Gorman said the world was moving beyond digitalisation towards becoming fully digital societies, where technology increasingly shapes how governments, businesses, and citizens interact.

“We’re entering a new era of digital nations where individuals are at the centre of digital transformation, ” he said, adding that artificial intelligence was increasingly influencing everyday decision-making and changing how people communicate, access services, and interact with society.

He added that reliable connectivity was critical for digital payments, businesses, emergency communications, and essential public services. While different countries adopted different approaches to internet management, he said the GSMA encouraged policies that maintained access wherever possible while respecting national security requirements.

He welcomed discussions on improving coordination between the federal government and the provinces in developing a National Digital Master Plan, saying effective governance would help guide AI policy alongside broader digital transformation efforts.

Gorman also praised the Digital Nation Pakistan Act and the establishment of the Pakistan Digital Authority, saying they provided an institutional framework to bring different parts of government together and improve coordination on digital policy.

He said Pakistan was competing with other ambitious economies in the region for international investment and should learn from global best practices while developing solutions suited to its own economic, social, and linguistic realities.

“There is no one-size-fits-all solution, ” he said. “Learning from other countries does not mean copying them. Pakistan has unique circumstances that require its own approach. ”

Highlighting the importance of collaboration, Gorman said no single organisation could address challenges such as cybersecurity, online fraud, or digital trust on its own.

Instead, governments, regulators, telecom operators, financial institutions, technology companies, and development partners needed to work together.

Addressing the growing threat of online scams, he said increasing smartphone adoption and digital payments naturally made countries more attractive targets for cybercriminals.

“As more people connect to the internet and transact digitally, scams and fraud will increase unless the ecosystem works together to prevent them, ” he said.

He added that the GSMA’s Open Gateway initiative was developing standardised mobile network APIs, including number verification tools, to strengthen digital trust and improve online security.

He stressed that building trust in the digital economy extended beyond fraud prevention to include cybersecurity, online safety, resilient networks, and ensuring citizens could use digital services with confidence.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain on Tuesday said climate change was significantly altering Pakistan’s crop and sowing patterns, posing a serious challenge to the country’s food security and requiring comprehensive adaptation measures to safeguard the agriculture sector.

Talking to the media during his visit to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) after receiving a detailed briefing on the prevailing flood situation, the minister said Pakistan’s agriculture sector was among the worst affected by climate change despite the country’s negligible contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions.

He was accompanied by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr Musadik Malik, Minister for Water Resources Mian Muhammad Mueen Wattoo, Minister for Finance Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, and Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar.

Rana Tanveer recalled that the devastating floods of 2022 had inflicted losses worth billions of dollars, but said the country’s disaster management capacity had improved considerably since then.

He appreciated the NDMA for modernising its systems and enhancing its operational preparedness, saying the authority was now better equipped to respond promptly to emergencies through improved early warning mechanisms and timely interventions.

The minister stressed the need to further strengthen emergency response systems at the district level, enabling local authorities to act swiftly and minimise losses during natural disasters.

Referring to the impact of climate change on agriculture, he said Pakistan ranked among the five countries most vulnerable to climate change, with the farming sector bearing the brunt of its adverse effects.

“The biggest impact of climate change in Pakistan is on the agriculture sector, and food security has become a major challenge, ” he said.

Rana Tanveer said the government had already begun adjusting crop cultivation and sowing patterns in response to changing climatic conditions and had prepared a comprehensive strategy to help the agriculture sector adapt to climate-related challenges.

He said the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, was pursuing a proactive approach to strengthen climate resilience and expressed confidence that Pakistan would be better prepared to tackle the challenge in the coming years.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb on Tuesday described climate change and rapid population growth as the two greatest existential challenges facing Pakistan, stressing that sustainable economic growth depends on effectively addressing both issues through long-term planning and investment.

Speaking during a visit to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) headquarters, the finance minister said the government had launched a US$2 billion programme aimed at strengthening climate resilience and mitigating the impacts of environmental degradation.

He added that approximately US$700 million annually has been allocated to tackle natural disasters, reduce vulnerabilities, and protect both lives and critical infrastructure.

Aurangzeb said Pakistan remains among the countries most vulnerable to climate change despite contributing only a small fraction of global greenhouse gas emissions.

The minister noted that recurring floods, heat waves, droughts, and other extreme weather events continue to place enormous pressure on the country’s economy and development.

Referring to the devastating floods of 2022, the minister described them as the worst natural disaster in Pakistan’s history. The catastrophe claimed the lives of more people, displaced millions, and caused widespread destruction to homes, roads, bridges, crops, and public infrastructure.

Finance Minister said that while the floods experienced in 2025 also resulted in significant infrastructure damage, the loss of human lives was considerably lower due to the government’s improved disaster preparedness and the NDMA’s proactive response strategy.

‘The comprehensive planning, timely warnings and coordinated efforts of the NDMA helped minimise casualties during this year’s floods, ‘ Aurangzeb said. ‘Although infrastructure losses remained substantial, many precious lives were saved through effective preparedness and swift response mechanisms. ‘

The finance minister also highlighted the shift in Pakistan’s disaster financing strategy. He recalled that following the 2022 floods, the country relied heavily on international assistance and commitments made during the Geneva Conference for reconstruction and rehabilitation.

However, he said the government is now increasingly mobilising domestic resources to respond to climate-related disasters and strengthen national resilience.

Aurangzeb said Pakistan’s improving economic indicators have created greater fiscal space for investing in climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction. He expressed confidence that the country is moving towards a sustainable growth phase supported by sound economic policies and comprehensive planning.

He added that Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and the federal cabinet have decided to prioritise the use of national resources to develop and implement an effective strategy for reducing the impact of future natural disasters.

The minister underscored the importance of real-time data, early warning systems, and pre-emptive planning in disaster management.

He said accurate and timely information enables authorities to make informed decisions, improve emergency response, and significantly reduce human and economic losses during natural calamities.

Aurangzeb commended the NDMA for adopting modern technologies and data-driven systems that have enhanced Pakistan’s disaster preparedness. He praised the authority’s pre-emptive approach, saying it played a crucial role in protecting communities and reducing the overall impact of floods and other natural disasters.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to building a climate-resilient Pakistan, the finance minister said continued investment in disaster management, environmental protection, and sustainable development would remain essential to safeguarding lives, strengthening infrastructure, and ensuring long-term economic stability.

Islamabad: Indus River System Authority (IRSA) on Tuesday released 336, 600 cusecs of water from various rim stations with an inflow of 430, 100 cusecs.

According to the data released by IRSA, the water level in the River Indus at Tarbela Dam stood at 1533. 00 feet, which was 131. 00 feet higher than the dead level of 1402. 00 feet. Water inflow and outflow in the dam were recorded as 242, 900 cusecs and 189, 300 cusecs, respectively.

The water level in the Jhelum River at Mangla Dam was 1191. 00 feet, which was 141. 00 feet higher than its dead level of 1, 050 feet. The inflow and outflow of water were recorded as 48, 500 cusecs and 8, 600 cusecs, respectively.

The release of water at Kalabagh, Taunsa, Guddu and Sukkur was recorded as 267, 200, 366, 000, 303, 900, and 168, 700 cusecs, respectively. Similarly, from River Kabul, a total of 49, 100 cusecs of water was released at Nowshera, and 78, 400 cusecs were released from River Chenab at Marala.

Islamabad: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan and Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enable integration of HEC’s degree verification system with PSEB’s upcoming national digital workforce platform.

The initiative aims to facilitate digital verification of academic credentials, strengthen academia-industry linkages, and enhance graduate employability.

Chairman HEC, Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, and Chief Executive Officer PSEB, Mr. Faisal Jeddy, graced the MoU signing ceremony with their presence along with other senior officials from both sides.

The integration will facilitate digital degree verification, enabling authenticated academic credentials of students and professionals while enhancing transparency, credibility, and trust across digital workforce and talent development initiatives.

The platform will establish Pakistan’s first national verified digital talent repository, featuring authenticated digital profiles of students and IT professionals. This will provide employers, both within Pakistan and internationally, with access to a trusted and verified talent pool, strengthening talent matchmaking, recruitment, and global employment opportunities for Pakistan’s digital workforce.

This collaboration marks another significant step towards building an integrated, data-driven ecosystem that supports skills development, employability, and Pakistan’s digital transformation agenda.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday said the government was intensifying efforts to eliminate hepatitis C through a nationwide collaborative approach, urging all provinces and stakeholders to join the initiative to tackle one of Pakistan’s most pressing public health challenges.

“We have launched the pilot hepatitis C elimination programme, and are now expanding it to Islamabad Capital Territory, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Our goal of achieving Zero Hepatitis C is attainable if the federal and provincial governments, along with all stakeholders, work together, ” he said while addressing an event held in connection with World Hepatitis Day.

The minister said Pakistan ranked among the countries with the highest burden of hepatitis C, with more than 10 million people affected, making the disease a major challenge to the country’s human development and economic productivity.

He said the government had launched a pilot hepatitis C elimination programme this year, which was now being expanded to the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), with the objective of achieving a “Zero Hepatitis C” target in these regions.

Ahsan said the initiative demonstrated the government’s commitment to controlling the disease and expressed hope that all provinces would replicate the programme to achieve nationwide elimination.

He said hepatitis C was preventable, stressing that strict adherence to safe blood transfusion protocols, proper sterilisation of medical equipment and the safe use of syringes could significantly reduce infections.

The minister said health was directly linked with national development, adding that no country could realise its economic potential without a healthy and productive workforce.

He stressed that investment in health and education was essential for enhancing human capital and ensuring sustainable economic growth.

He said Pakistan continued to face serious health and education challenges, including high rates of hepatitis C, diabetes, polio and child stunting, and called for treating these sectors as a national emergency.

Ahsan said the government had also launched a nationwide diabetes awareness initiative alongside the hepatitis elimination programme to address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases.

He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had constituted the National Population Council to address rapid population growth through coordinated national efforts, while emphasising the need for broader policy reforms and consensus on resource allocation mechanisms to support population planning objectives.

The minister assured that the Ministry of Planning would continue extending full support to the Ministry of National Health Services in implementing the hepatitis elimination programme.

He said the success of the initiative depended on a whole-of-society approach, calling upon provincial governments, the private sector, civil society and religious scholars to actively contribute to raising awareness and preventing the spread of hepatitis C.

Ahsan also appreciated the Ministry of Health and the programme team for advancing the national hepatitis elimination campaign and expressed confidence that collective efforts could enable Pakistan to overcome the disease.