ISLAMABAD: On Pakistan’s 78th Independence Day, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja announced a new digital transformation roadmap under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Digital Nation Pakistan vision. She said the plan aims to make the country self-reliant and technology-driven.
Speaking at a ceremony attended by government officials, industry leaders, startups, and academia, the minister paid tribute to Marka-e-Haq — Pakistan’s victory over India in May. She described it as a historic achievement that showed national courage, professionalism, and technological strength.
Khawaja praised the Armed Forces, especially Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, for their role in ensuring national defence and supporting technological advancement.
The minister highlighted Pakistan’s recent international achievements. She said the country earned Tier-1 “Role Modelling” status in the 2024 Global Cybersecurity Index and moved up 14 places in the UN E-Government Development Index, entering the High EGDI category for the first time.
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She also pointed to progress in digital inclusion. Citing the 2025 GSMA Gender Gap Report, she said the mobile internet gender gap dropped from 38% to 25% in FY 2024-25.
Around eight million women came online during the year, and women’s mobile internet usage nearly doubled from 10% to 19%, meeting the target she had set when she took office.
Outlining the government’s future plans, Khawaja said Digital Nation Pakistan will focus on empowering youth, improving governance, supporting industries, and building a strong digital public infrastructure.
The roadmap includes:
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National AI Policy 2025 to encourage ethical AI use and economic growth.
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National Fiberisation Initiative to expand high-speed internet nationwide.
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IMT Spectrum Auction to prepare for 5G and attract foreign investment.
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Satellite Internet Services to ensure universal connectivity.
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Uninterrupted Internet Policy for IT companies to boost exports.
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DigiSkills 3.0 programme to train 3.3 million IT professionals in three years, including 300,000 with Huawei and 200,000 with Google.
Khawaja linked the spirit of independence with digital sovereignty, saying true freedom today means self-reliance in technology, innovation, and governance.
Concluding her speech, she said: “With Marka-e-Haq, Pakistan proved it cannot be ignored. On this 14th August, we commit to using technology to build a fair and prosperous Pakistan within our lifetime.”
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