As of August 19, 2025, the federal government officially established the Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA)—one of three bodies created under the Digital Nation Pakistan Act, 2025—to spearhead the development, implementation, and oversight of the National Digital Master Plan.
Who’s Who:
- Chairperson: Dr. Sohail Munir, a digital futurist currently advising the Abu Dhabi government on digital transformation.
- Member: Dr. Muhammad J. Sear, also a digital transformation expert, currently CEO of Simpli Human in the UAE.
- Vacancy: One position is still open, so tech-savvy folks, keep your resumes ready.
Both are appointed under the Ministry of IT & Telecom on five-year contracts effective immediately.
PDA Responsibilities:
- Craft, revise, and execute the National Digital Master Plan
- Establish monitoring and evaluation frameworks for digital transformation projects
- Facilitate stakeholder coordination, enforce national data strategies, and manage data governance across sectors
- Recommend standards for cloud infrastructure governance in the public sector
The Governance Ecosystem Behind the Scenes
The Digital Nation Act sets up a layered structure:
- National Digital Commission (NDC): The apex body, chaired by the Prime Minister, includes chief ministers, federal ministers, heads of key regulators, including the PDA chairperson. It approves the Master Plan and coordinates across provinces.
- Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA): The operational arm, tasked with executing the Master Plan.
- Oversight Committee (SOC): Reviews PDA’s performance independently and reports to the NDC. Chaired by the IT Minister, includes secretaries and private-sector reps.
The decision-making is highly centralized—appointments and oversight remain heavily within governmental control.
The Good, The Bad, and The We’re-Watching-Closely
The Good:
- Finally, a dedicated authority with a vision to modernize public services, empower data governance, and reduce red tape.
The Caveats:
- Critics warn the structure is opaque, with vague terms around digital rights, accountability, and transparency.
- Without strong safeguards, centralized control risks becoming surveillance, censorship, or stifled innovation.
