Pakistan has launched a new regulatory body to drive its digital transformation, with the formal establishment of the Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA). The government has confirmed the appointment of its first chairperson and member, while a third seat remains vacant.
The authority is one of three organisations formed under the Digital Nation Bill, approved in June. Its primary task will be to design, implement and review the national digital master plan. In addition, it will supervise a monitoring framework to track the success of digital projects and ensure compliance across both public and private sectors.
According to official notifications, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointed Dr Sohail Munir as chairperson and Dr Muhammad J. Sear as one of the members. Both will serve for five years under the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication.
Dr Munir is recognised as an expert in digital governance and is currently an adviser to Abu Dhabi’s Department of Government Enablement. Dr Sear, with extensive experience in technology and governance, is also leading Simpli Human, a well-being startup in the UAE.
The Digital Nation Bill aims to consolidate citizens’ data into a centralised system and create a digital identity framework. It is also designed to support a shift toward a digital economy and government.
The PDA will be responsible for reviewing strategies under the digital master plan, introducing a national data strategy, and setting standards for public cloud infrastructure.