Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the formation of a search and selection committee tasked with recommending appointments for the Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA), a key institution under the recently enacted Digital Nation Pakistan Act.
According to an official notification by the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, the committee will be responsible for shortlisting candidates and proposing three names for each position, including Chairperson and two members of the PDA. It will also determine salaries and benefits for these posts.
Federal IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja has been appointed convener of the committee. Other members include the federal ministers and secretaries from economic affairs, cabinet, establishment, and IT and telecom divisions.
The Digital Nation Pakistan Act, passed by the cabinet in June 2024 and enacted in January 2025, aims to create a modern, digitally-enabled governance ecosystem, fostering a digital economy, digital society, and digital governance.
The PDA will be responsible for formulating and executing the National Digital Master Plan, setting standards for public digital infrastructure, and monitoring the implementation of digital transformation initiatives.
In addition to the PDA, the act envisions the formation of a Strategic Oversight Committee led by the IT Minister, with participation from secretaries of IT, finance, planning, and private sector experts.
Chairman of the NA IT Committee Syed Aminul Haque, during the passage of the bill, emphasized that Pakistan’s digital future must not be politicized, stressing the urgency of transforming the country into a progressive digital nation driven by technology and innovation.
“Digitization is no longer optional—it is essential,” Haque noted.
The PDA’s formation marks a significant step forward in streamlining governance through technology, with hopes to improve public service delivery, economic efficiency, and citizen engagement.