Exclusive: Pakistan to Invest Billions in Bringing IT Based Services (Apps) to Citizens

Government of Pakistan is working on a plan under which tons of IT based citizen services — in shape of web and mobile apps — will be launched in the country in days to come, sources who are directly aware of the development told ProPakistani.

Since the final plan is yet to be inked, sources wanted to remain unnamed and told ProPakistani that under the initiative government of Pakistan is partnering with major multinationals IT firms and a telco to bring web and mobile based apps for citizens of Pakistan.

These apps will be aimed at offering information, utility, reporting and similar services to the masses.

Government has reportedly identified 5 areas (including: Health, Education, Agriculture and e-governance) for which students, startups, private firms (or literally anyone) will be asked to come up with ideas. Dozens of best ideas (in each area mentioned above ) will be selected with grants to get them implemented.

The value of grant will depend on scope and value of the app.

While we can’t say much about type and orientation of apps that you can expect from this initiative, but it would be safe to assume that common Pakistanis would be able to experience IT based services that we only see in Hollywood movies.

Ideas will be evaluated based on their productivity, value to society and ultimate benefit to the country.

There is no word said yet about the total value of grants that will be provided for the execution of ideas and the the number of ideas that government will accept.

Government is expected to officially announce this plan with-in next couple of weeks.

With this initiate, government is also aiming at improving the governance through information channels provided through these IT based services.

After the emergence of 3G and 4G technologies in Pakistan, such initiatives were bound to happen — the only question was about when.

If you have read our earlier story in which we had urged government and private sector to build the ecosystem that could transform our communities to information based societies, then this is the realization of what we had dreamt about.

The whole news is more encouraging considering the fact that government and private sectors have come together to reap the benefits of technology to help improve the life-styles of a common Pakistani.

Tech and telecom reporter for over 15 years


  • Way to go PML-N … we know that you have potential to radicalize pakistan. We have faith in you….. we support you not only for the end this term but beyond that as well….. don’t bother what ILzam khan is saying … just keep your heads down and work for the prosperous future of PAKISTAN. #RoImranRo

        • Because … ProPakistani. Any mention of ‘soft’ words such as might send your post into “moderation cue”, and it’ll will NEVER return (i.e. never be approved). No one moderates the comments section, apparently. <_<

          Have already happened with me million of times, and i just can't take it anymore <_< Can't do anything, except taking precautionary measures. No

              • Ap ne username PeDroid Mini L100 kyun rakaha hai. Plz will you elaborate each word? just for information, I am curious………. :)

                • P)ee On Droid MiNiature Model No. 100 (PeeDroid MiNi L100)
                  P)ee On Droid MiNiature Model No. 420 (PeeDroid MiNi L420)
                  That Niqqa P)ee On Droid (That Niqqa PeeDroid)
                  That Niqqa Active (ActiveX)
                  Many More Names!!

                • P)ee On Droid MiNiature Model No. 100 (PeeDroid MiNi L100)
                  P)ee On Droid MiNiature Model No. 420 (PeeDroid MiNi L420)
                  That Niqqa P)ee On Droid (That Niqqa PeeDroid)
                  That Niqqa Active (ActiveX)
                  Many More Names!!

                • P)ee On Droid MiNiature Model No. 100 (PeeDroid MiNi L100)
                  P)ee On Droid MiNiature Model No. 420 (PeeDroid MiNi L420)
                  That Niqqa P)ee On Droid (That Niqqa PeeDroid)
                  That Niqqa Active (ActiveX)
                  Many More Names!!

                • P)ee On Droid MiNiature Model No. 100 (PeeDroid MiNi L100)
                  P)ee On Droid MiNiature Model No. 420 (PeeDroid MiNi L420)
                  That Niqqa P)ee On Droid (That Niqqa PeeDroid)
                  That Niqqa Active (ActiveX)
                  Many More Names!!

                • P)ee On Droid MiNiature Model No. 100 (PeeDroid MiNi L100)
                  P)ee On Droid MiNiature Model No. 420 (PeeDroid MiNi L420)
                  That Niqqa P)ee On Droid (That Niqqa PeeDroid)
                  That Niqqa Active (ActiveX)
                  Many More Names!!

            • Can i please suggest to “DELETE” the comment you deem unworthy of approval, instead of leaving it as “pending”? The latter scenario makes you ‘wait’ for an approval.

              On many websites (such as GSMArena Blog), i can see that they have rules defined just above the comments system. It’d be better if you could do the same, to help us realize what to post and what not to post. (In my defense, sometimes i post a link to a picture, or an article containing some useful information, but it ALWAYS makes the comment go into moderation cue.)

              This is ONE thing discouraging me to participate actively at ProPakistan, and i am afraid if this keeps up, i’ll have to add this site to my ignore list. I don’t like to read articles i can’t participate into.

              Thank you for reading it. I hope my message is heard.

              • We approve tons of moderated comments. But yes, please spare some room where we might had made mistakes.

                Our policy is very clear: Anything you want to say, but that is with-in the language, is encouraged. There are some exceptions: Blasphemy and anything against national interests isn’t allowed.

                Let me make arrangements for highlighting these policies more somewhere around the comment section.

                Appreciate your feedback.

                • Thank you for the positive response. Really appreciate it.

                  Just a tiny confusion. Is posting links (URLs) to other articles/pictures (when needs be) allowed? In the past, it never worked for me. It’d be good if you could clear me on that as well.

                  • you can see a lot of comments with URLs….

                    However, those for self promotion, such as cross-links of other blogs — mainly for promotion — aren’t usually allowed.

                    • While we are on the topic, why don’t you guys add links to related sites at the end of posts?
                      For example if there is new package from ufone etc and you write about it there is no link to ufone’s site at the end of article or better yet to that package’s page.

                      Every blog does this to make sure if people want more info they can get it and site traffic for people who you are reporting on.

            • I had once written a long comment about ptcl and it also gone in moderation queue or may be flagged spam and never seen it again. As we all know in a comment about ptcl few such words are totally required, considering the fact about their no value for money and new promotions always for new customers ignoring current.

    • Way to go PML-N … we know that you have potential to corrupt Pakistan. We have faith in you because you give us a laptop and metrobus….. we support you, love you, marty han hum tum par, because you pay only Rs.5,000 tax! not only for the end this term but beyond that as well….. … just keep your heads down and work for the prosperous future of PAKISTAN. #Go Aqal. GO

      • Transparency international ko bhi nawaz shareef ne khareed lia …. PTI’s Bakwas logic ……. Facepalm

        #RoImranRo

        • putar corruption khatam nahi hui 175 mulkon main se 126 pe aya hai 100 se neeche a jai na to phir baat karin

    • Haters gonna hate it …. PTI’s youthias cannot digest it…. simple is that….. #BurnolForPTI ….. #RoImranRo

  • Ahhh… PMLS’s version of “income support”. Lets see if they can beat PPP’s record of stealing money from Pakistan.

  • Ahhh… PMLS’s version of “income support”. Lets see if they can beat PPP’s record of stealing money from Pakistan.

  • I’m curious what permissions such apps will require on Android phones… will they phone back with as much of my phone data as they can gather?

    • Why? All your data traffic is already routed through PTA. And what does it matter in any case – you already send your phone data to the US govt/NSA regardless if you use iOS/Android/Windows. And if you you use a cheap chinese phone then China!

      Might as well give it to the Pakistan government too, and your neighbour while you are at it!

    • Why? All your data traffic is already routed through PTA. And what does it matter in any case – you already send your phone data to the US govt/NSA regardless if you use iOS/Android/Windows. And if you you use a cheap chinese phone then China!

      Might as well give it to the Pakistan government too, and your neighbour while you are at it!

      • Well, some of us practice good phone hygiene and do not have Facebook or Twitter or … on our phones. And also prefer services that use https.

    • You will be amazed to know that when I downloaded “Facebook Data, Achieve File”, in which all of your photos, videos, past shared posts etc are zipped, I found all of my contacts number of my father, mother, brother, uncle etc were present inside the content of that zip. I don’t know how they got this perhaps through the smart phone’s app.It means if a person joins Facebook through their app then his privacy has no chance to exist!

  • Way to go PML-N … we know that you have potential to corrupt Pakistan. We have faith in you because you give us a laptop and metrobus….. we support you, love you, marty han hum tum par, because you pay only Rs.5,000 tax! not only for the end this term but beyond that as well….. … just keep your heads down and work for the prosperous future of PAKISTAN. #Go Aqal GO

  • lol ! Seems they Don’t intend to Avail Jobs
    Rather than Wasting Money in Other Services ! :(
    What a Useless Govt we Got :
    Income Support are nothing but loots they get from our taxes !
    People stop fooling Around You Know what is right and what isn’t ! :)
    Bless My People !
    Every Govt in Which came and gone has done nothing for country they get from Ripped Systems and Invest in Other Countries and Bought Plots !
    Nawaz Shareef record is also as corrupt as others !
    He came in Powers To Get More Money From this Shity System and Waves all Cases and Taxes !

  • حکومت کو بہت کچھ کرنا ہوگا۔ اس وقت تو یہ صورت حال ہے کہ وزیروں اور حکوت کے سیکرٹریوں کے ای میل پتے تک دستیاب نہیں۔ قومی زبان میں ایک بھی سرکاری ویب سائیٹ نہیں ہے۔ انگریزی میں معلومات کتنے فی صد لوگوں کے کام آئے گی؟


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