ISLAMABAD: The government has formally established the Paki­stan Digital Auth­ority (PDA) under the Digital Nation Paki­stan Act, 2025, with the appo­intment of Dr Sohail Munir as chairman and Dr Mohammad J. Sear as a member.

A third member is yet to be appointed.

According to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division, the chairperson and the other member have been appointed for a five-year term. The Autho­rity will act as the implementing body of the Nati­onal Digital Master Plan, responsible for developing, executing and monitoring digital transformation acr­oss the public sector.

The PDA is tasked with setting up monitoring and evaluation frameworks to ensure transparency and accountability in digital initiatives. Officials say its creation underscores the gover­nment’s commitment to digitisation, innovation and the delivery of efficient public services. The Authority aims to reduce reliance on paper processes, curb corruption and align service delivery with global standards.

The Digital Nation Pakistan Act was passed by parliament in January as part of the government’s efforts to achieve a digital revolution in governance, the economy and society at large.

Minister for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja has said the law will establish the foundations of a digital economy and transparent governance. She previously announced that citizens will be able to access government services and documents directly on their mobile phones, eliminating long queues.

The minister also highlighted the planned development of Data Exchange Layers to simplify processes and improve the ease of doing business in the country.

The Authority’s key role is to coordinate among federal, provincial and local governments, sectoral bodies, regulators and private stakeholders to ensure all digital initiatives are aligned with the master plan.

It will also be responsible for drafting and enforcing a National Data Strategy and a comprehensive governance framework for public and private sector data management. Under the Act, data custodians will retain responsibility for their datasets, while the PDA will provide secure and standardised frameworks for data exchange.

The Authority will also recommend governance, standards and operational compliance for public sector cloud infrastructure to ensure consistency with national cloud policies.

The government is also appointing the members and the heads of the Strategic Oversight Committee and the National Digital Commission.

A search and selection committee headed by Ms Khawaja has forwarded the names to the prime minister. The committee included the ministers for Finance, Economic Affairs and Railways, the secretaries for Establishment, Cabinet and IT. The Strategic Oversight Committee will be tasked with monitoring the performance of the PDA. Meanwhile, the National Digital Commission, chaired by the prime minister and including chief ministers and regulators, will provide strategic direction and ensure coordination across federal and provincial levels.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2025