PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Thursday said digital transformation was central to the government’s agenda for improving public service delivery, strengthening institutional performance and promoting inclusive economic growth.

“Paperless governance and digital public administration will significantly enhance transparency, accountability, efficiency and institutional performance,” he said after launching the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Digital Transformation Policy and Roadmap, 2030, according to an official statement from his office.

The chief minister said that the policy’s launch was a transformative milestone towards establishing digital governance, transparent public administration and a sustainable digital economy in the province.

He said that reducing unnecessary human intervention in administrative processes would strengthen merit, minimise discretion and reinforce accountability across government.

Says paperless governance to enhance transparency, accountability, efficiency

Mr Afridi said that the policy was among the most comprehensive digital transformation frameworks developed in Pakistan and provided a strategic roadmap for steering KP towards modern, efficient, transparent and citizen-centric governance over the coming years.

He said that the provincial government was taking concrete steps to realise PTI founder Imran Khan’s vision of the ‘Digital Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’.

The chief minister commended the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Technology Board and all partner institutions for developing the policy through an extensive consultative process informed by international best practices, emerging technological trends and future governance requirements and said that he was confident that the roadmap would serve as the foundation for the province’s digital transformation journey.

Mr Afridi said that the provincial government would progressively digitise public services and adopt a fully citizen-centric service delivery model, enabling citizens to access a wide range of government services through integrated digital platforms in a faster, simpler and more convenient manner.

Highlighting the policy’s transformative impact, he noted that one of its most significant outcomes would be reducing the need for citizens, particularly those living in remote and underserved areas, to make repeated visits to government offices by enabling them to access services, information and public facilities remotely through digital platforms.

The chief minister underscored that artificial intelligence, emerging technologies and advanced digital skills were becoming fundamental drivers of future economic growth.

“Our government is prioritising investments in digital skills development to equip young people with globally competitive capabilities and expand opportunities for employment, freelancing, entrepreneurship and innovation,” he said.

Mr Afridi also highlighted the environmental and fiscal benefits of digital transformation, noting that digitisation not only improved governance but also promoted more efficient utilisation of public resources, reduced operational costs, lowered paper consumption and contributed to environmental conservation.

He said that the roadmap would play a pivotal role in building a modern, innovation-driven, environmentally sustainable digital economy.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2026