The federal government has decided to undertake a major restructuring of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) to transform it into a modern digital governance institution capable of leading Pakistan’s digital economy over the next decade.
The initiative will be carried out under the World Bank-supported Digital Economy Enhancement Project (DEEP), with the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication serving as the sponsoring ministry.
According to official documents, the ministry’s existing structure was primarily designed for a telecommunications-focused policy environment and is no longer fully equipped to address rapidly evolving global digital trends. The restructuring aims to strengthen the ministry’s capacity in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data governance, cloud computing, digital regulation, innovation ecosystems, and cross-government digital transformation.
As part of the plan, the government will hire an international consulting firm to conduct a comprehensive institutional assessment of the ministry. The consultants will identify structural and operational gaps and recommend a governance framework tailored to future digital needs.
The review will also assess coordination mechanisms and overlapping responsibilities with key institutions, including Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, National Database and Registration Authority, National Information Technology Board, Ignite, Pakistan Software Export Board, Universal Service Fund, Special Technology Zones Authority, and provincial IT boards.
In addition, the consultants will benchmark the ministry against leading digital governance institutions worldwide and propose amendments to the Rules of Business 1973 where necessary. They will also develop a new vision, mission, and mandate aligned with Pakistan’s digital transformation goals and the government’s Uraan Pakistan economic agenda.
Officials said the restructuring plan will include a detailed organizational framework, revised staffing structure, updated job descriptions, human resource reforms, and a phased implementation roadmap spanning the next ten years.
The roadmap will outline short-, medium-, and long-term reforms, along with budget requirements, risk management strategies, and approvals needed from relevant federal authorities.
The DEEP project aims to strengthen the government’s ability to deliver digitally enabled public services while building key digital public infrastructure. This includes digital identity and authentication systems, secure data-sharing mechanisms, and a national online public services portal.
The project will also support business reforms through the development of the Pakistan Business Portal and the digitization of regulatory approvals across government institutions.
The consultancy assignment is expected to be completed within six months of the contract award. A steering committee headed by the Secretary IT, and comprising representatives from the Establishment Division, Finance Division, Planning Commission, and other stakeholders, will oversee the restructuring process and provide strategic guidance throughout its implementation.
Also read: PM Shehbaz Initiates IT Programme To Strengthen Digital Economy
