ISLAMABAD:Chairman Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has called for closer Pakistan-Somalia ties in emerging technologies, urging joint initiatives in digital governance and artificial intelligence.

Highlighting the value of South-South cooperation, he noted that collaborating on digital public infrastructure and foundational identity would provide practical solutions to the common developmental challenges faced by both countries.

Mr Gilani expressed these views while speaking at a ceremony of the Somalia-Pakistan Peer Learning Programme on Foundational ID and Digital Public Infrastructure.

Chairman Gilani said the programme demonstrated that meaningful international cooperation was not limited to formal agreements, but also involved sharing knowledge, experiences and practical solutions to strengthen institutions and improve citizens’ lives.

He appreciated the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for facilitating the peer learning process and commended the partnership between Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) and Somalia’s National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) as a valuable example of South-South cooperation.

Chairman Gilani said a foundational identity system was far more than a database or registration document, describing it as a key building block of a modern state that facilitates access to public and private services and supports financial inclusion.

He noted that Pakistan’s experience through Nadra offered important lessons in developing identity infrastructure into a platform for wider governance and service delivery.

He said Pakistan was placing e-governance and digital transformation increasingly at the centre of its national development agenda.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2026