Govt Plans Major Overhaul of PTA, NITB, PSEB and Other IT Bodies

The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) has decided to review the mandates, functions, and coordination mechanisms of several key digital institutions as part of a proposed institutional restructuring.

The review will cover the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), National Information Technology Board (NITB), Ignite–National Technology Fund, Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), Universal Service Fund (USF), National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC), Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA), Electronic Certification Accreditation Council (ECAC), Telecom Foundation and provincial IT boards.

According to the Terms of Reference (TOR) issued by the ministry for hiring a consulting firm, the exercise will identify overlaps in responsibilities, institutional gaps, and coordination requirements among these organisations.

The consultant will examine the current role of the ministry and its affiliated entities and recommend a governance framework that improves policy coordination while respecting the statutory mandates of independent regulators and autonomous bodies.

The consultant will also assess how the ministry’s functions align with its attached departments and affiliated organisations. It will recommend measures to eliminate duplication of responsibilities and develop coordination mechanisms between federal and provincial institutions involved in digital governance.

The review will cover key policy areas, including digital public services, telecommunications, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, cloud adoption and emerging technologies.

According to the TOR, the consultant will compare Pakistan’s institutional framework with leading digital governance models around the world and prepare recommendations for a future organisational structure capable of supporting the country’s digital economy over the next decade.

The assignment will also include proposing amendments to the Rules of Business 1973 where needed and preparing an implementation roadmap covering institutional reforms, staffing, budgeting, and inter-agency coordination.

The restructuring exercise will be carried out under the ministry’s World Bank-assisted Digital Economy Enhancement Project (DEEP). The consultancy is expected to begin in October 2026 and continue for six months. It will conclude with a comprehensive restructuring plan, a legal and regulatory reform roadmap, and an institutional coordination framework defining the roles and responsibilities of the ministry and its affiliated organisations.