Pakistan took a major leap in digital transformation as Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal officially launched the National Big Data Portal on Thursday. Developed by LUMS and backed by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the platform will offer centralized access to public data for researchers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and citizens. It includes geo-tagged data from over 40 million households and 8 million businesses, making national data more usable and accessible than ever before.
At the launch event, Ahsan Iqbal called the portal more than just a digital tool. He said it marks Pakistan’s serious commitment to join the global data revolution. The minister acknowledged existing issues like outdated data systems and limited analytics. However, he emphasized that this new portal aims to move from basic data collection to smart insights that support better and faster decisions.
The project is part of the government’s wider 5Es Framework, which puts digital tools at the heart of governance and public service delivery. The PBS will lead the data efforts, using its network of regional offices and GIS labs to feed timely, accurate data into the system. This, officials believe, will drive smarter planning in areas such as education, healthcare, and climate action.
Iqbal also urged universities to expand training in data science and cloud computing. He said these skills are vital not just for tech sectors but also for solving real issues like crop management in Sindh or water stress in Balochistan. Data, he added, must be used to create local solutions for local problems.
In another bold move, the minister introduced Quantum Valley Pakistan, a new national innovation hub. The platform will bring together the country’s scattered research efforts, support science parks, and encourage public-private partnerships in cutting-edge fields like AI, robotics, and cybersecurity. It builds on past projects and aims to place Pakistan firmly on the map as a leader in digital innovation.