The Ministry of IT and Telecom has kickstarted the formation of a steering committee for the Digital Economy Enhancement Project (DEEP), inviting nominations from key stakeholders.
Representatives from organizations like the National Information Technology Board (NITB), National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), Provincial IT Boards, and the Board of Investment (BOI) are being sought by the Ministry to join the committee. With grant funding approved by the World Bank, the Ministry aims to expedite the implementation of the DEEP project.
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An interim Project Management Unit (PMU) will soon be established within the Ministry, with ministry officials taking on acting roles initially. Subsequently, a permanent PMU will be formed following the appointment of a project director and necessary staff.
As per the project document, the Project Director and PMU staff will report to a Project Steering Committee (PSC) chaired by the Ministry of IT and Telecom. The PSC, comprising representatives from various governmental bodies, will meet quarterly to oversee project management, monitor deliverables, assess report quality, and tackle implementation issues.
The DEEP project is geared towards catalyzing national digital transformation, aiming to enhance citizens’ quality of life, improve access to government services, and boost the country’s business environment. Key objectives include developing Pakistan’s digital government architecture, establishing a national data exchange layer, introducing a National Digital ID system, and creating a unified platform for business-government interactions. Additionally, the initiative includes the Civic Innovation and Technology Labs (CITL) initiative to promote innovation through open government data.
Recently, the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved a financing package of $149.7 million, with a significant portion allocated to the Digital Economy Enhancement Project (DEEP). Valued at $78 million, DEEP aims to revolutionize public service delivery by leveraging digital platforms to expand access to digitally enabled services for citizens and businesses, fostering greater connectivity and efficiency in the digital realm.
