Govt to Completely Restructure IT Ministry for the Next Decade

The federal government has decided to carry out a major restructuring of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) as part of efforts to turn it into a modern digital governance institution capable of leading Pakistan’s digital economy over the next decade.

The initiative will be implemented under the World Bank-supported Digital Economy Enhancement Project (DEEP), with MoITT serving as the sponsoring ministry.

According to official documents, the ministry’s current structure was designed mainly for a telecommunications-focused policy environment and is no longer fully suited to rapidly changing global digital trends. The restructuring aims to prepare the ministry to handle emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data governance, cloud computing, digital regulation, innovation ecosystems, and cross-government digital transformation.

As part of the plan, the government will hire an international consulting firm to carry out a comprehensive institutional assessment of the ministry. The consultants will identify structural and operational gaps and recommend a governance framework designed for future digital needs.

The consultancy will also review coordination mechanisms and overlapping responsibilities with key institutions, including PTA, NADRA, NITB, Ignite, PSEB, USF, STZA, and provincial IT boards.

In addition, the consultants will benchmark MoITT against leading digital governance ministries around the world and recommend amendments to the Rules of Business 1973 where required. They will also develop a new vision, mission, and mandate for the ministry that aligns with Pakistan’s digital transformation goals and the government’s economic agenda under Uraan Pakistan.

Officials said the restructuring plan will include a detailed organisational framework, a revised staffing structure, updated job descriptions, human resource reforms, and a phased implementation roadmap covering the next ten years.

The roadmap will outline short, medium, and long-term measures, along with budget requirements, risk management strategies, and approvals needed from relevant federal authorities.

The DEEP project is designed to strengthen the government’s ability to deliver digitally enabled public services while building key digital public infrastructure. This includes digital authentication systems, responsible data exchange mechanisms, and a national online public services portal.

The project also aims to support business reforms through the development of the Pakistan Business Portal and the digitisation of regulatory approvals across government institutions.

The consultancy assignment is expected to be completed within six months of the contract award. A steering committee led by the Secretary of IT, and including representatives from the Establishment Division, Finance Division, Planning Commission, and other stakeholders, will oversee the process and provide strategic guidance throughout the restructuring exercise.