Latest news with #MinistryofIT
Business Recorder
18 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Cabinet approves Hajj policy 2026: govt-private quota set at 70:30
The federal cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on Wednesday approved the Hajj Policy 2026 with a focus on full digitization of Hajj operations and enhanced pilgrim facilitation. As per the new policy, Pakistan's total Hajj quota for 2026 will be distributed with 70% allocated to the government scheme and 30% to private Hajj operators, officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs informed the cabinet. The prime minister lauded the digitization efforts, saying that ensuring seamless services for pilgrims remained a top priority. He directed the Ministry of Religious Affairs to strictly implement the policy and ensure transparency and convenience for all intending pilgrims. Umrah or Hajj: Govt seeks CII's guidance on 'Mehram requirement' for female pilgrims Key features of the Hajj policy 2026 include: Full digitization of the Hajj process with real-time monitoring of applications, payments, and services. Third-party validation of both public and private Hajj operations. Minimum quota of 2,000 pilgrims per private operator to ensure accountability. 1,000 seats reserved for hardship cases. Accommodation, meals, SIM cards, digital wristbands, and emergency compensation for all pilgrims. Upgrade of the Pak Hajj mobile application for training, complaints, and payment tracking. It was also disclosed that private companies responsible for mishandling Hajj 2025 arrangements will be required to accommodate affected pilgrims in 2026. The cabinet unanimously approved the policy and appreciated the efforts of relevant ministries and officials involved in its formulation. The Prime Minister also directed the Ministry of IT to support the Ministry of Religious Affairs in ensuring complete digitization of Hajj operations
Business Recorder
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Digital sectors: Minister, Chinese envoy vow to deepen cooperation
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja met with Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong at the Ministry of IT, where both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation in key digital sectors. The discussion covered smart city projects, Artificial Intelligence (AI) programmes, and broader technical collaboration, marking a renewed pledge by both nations to implement inclusive, mutually beneficial initiatives in the emerging tech space. Ambassador Jiang assured China's continued support for Pakistan's digital transformation through hands-on collaboration and knowledge exchange. Meanwhile, Minister Khawaja is currently representing Pakistan at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, where she is leading the country's delegation and promoting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's 'Digital Nation Pakistan' vision. Her presence at the global forum reflects Pakistan's ambition to position itself as a regional leader in AI and innovation. On the sidelines of the conference, Minister Khawaja also held a bilateral meeting with Nepal's Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung. The two leaders discussed strengthening digital cooperation in South Asia, focusing on emerging technologies, regional connectivity, and digital capacity-building. Both ministers expressed commitment to establishing a sustainable and integrated digital ecosystem across the region. Earlier this week in Islamabad, Minister Khawaja also welcomed a delegation from Arizona State University and Pakistan's National Institute of Technology (NIT). Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
19-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
FY25 IT, ITeS exports soar to $3.8bn: minister
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja announced that Pakistan's IT, IT-enabled services (ITeS), and freelancers' exports soared to a record $3.8 billion in the fiscal year 2024–25 reflecting an impressive 18 per cent year-on-year growth. Terming it a landmark achievement, the minister credited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's personal commitment and the government's focused strategy for this success. She said the Ministry of IT targeted policy actions in five key areas played a crucial role in driving this progress. 'These areas include enhancing Pakistan's global visibility in tech, investing in talent and digital infrastructure, offering policy-based protections and incentives, ensuring stable and high-speed internet connectivity and advancing national digitalization—particularly the digital economy and a cashless Pakistan,' Khawaja said. She emphasised that this surge in IT exports is a testament to the effectiveness of government vision and policymaking, backed by the hard work of Pakistan's talented IT professionals, startups, and freelancers, who are positioning the country as a rising global tech force. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
12-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
MoITT explores AI-driven sign language solutions
ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT), under the leadership of Federal Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, convened a high-level meeting to explore AI-driven sign language solutions aimed at improving communication accessibility for the hearing-impaired community in Pakistan. The meeting brought together senior officials including Federal Secretary of Information and Broadcasting Ambrin Jan, representatives from the Ministry of IT, Ministry of Information, Ignite, and prominent startups from the local innovation ecosystem. Two leading Pakistani startups—ConnectHear and DeafTawk—presented their cutting-edge platforms, featuring real-time sign language interpretation, AI-powered communication tools, and offline public alert services specifically designed for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. This consultative session was held under the subcommittee on IT formed by the National Policy Board, as part of the implementation of the Access to Media (Deaf) Persons Act, 2022. The subcommittee, chaired by Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, is tasked with evaluating AI-based sign language practices and recommending inclusive technologies for public media platforms. During the session, the secretary of Information and Broadcasting proposed a pilot project on PTV, selecting one daily news bulletin for AI-based sign language interpretation. Ignite endorsed this phased approach, emphasising the importance of measurable impact to build trust in the technology. It was agreed that Connect Hear and DeafTawk will jointly develop a proof of concept (PoC) in collaboration with the Ministry of IT. Ignite will also assess the possibility of launching a National Innovation Challenge through its incubation centers to attract more tech-driven solutions for accessibility. Commending the efforts of the startups, Minister Khawaja reiterated the government's commitment to inclusive digital transformation. She stressed the need to develop a comprehensive 'super app' featuring AI tools and voice-command capabilities to enhance accessibility for persons with disabilities. The meeting concluded with consensus on inter-ministerial cooperation and support for scalable, innovative tools that can foster digital inclusion in public media and civic services. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
24-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Digital payments: Pakistan PM forms three high-powered panels
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday launched a sweeping push towards a cashless economy, directing formation of three high-powered panels to fast-track digital payments across the country and tighten the government's grip on financial transparency. The new committees – the Digital Payments Innovation and Adoption Committee, the Digital Public Infrastructure Committee, and the Government Payments Committee – have been tasked with crafting policy to accelerate digital transactions between citizens, businesses and the state, while also activating the long-dormant Pakistan Digital Authority and drafting a national digital master plan. The prime minister, while chairing a high-level meeting, said that shifting from cash to digital was not optional but essential for a transparent economy. PM forms body to promote cashless economy, digitization 'The developed nations are racing ahead with cashless systems. Pakistan can't afford to be left behind,' he added. In a significant directive, Sharif ordered the expansion of the RAAST digital payment system from the federal level to all provinces. 'A digital transaction ecosystem is the backbone of a modern economy,' he said, stressing those digital payments must become more affordable and accessible than cash to win public trust. The officials briefed the prime minister that over 40 million users are currently on RAAST, Pakistan's flagship digital payment rail, with all federal financial transactions already routed through the system. Steps are underway to bring provincial governments onboard. The prime minister also signalled a pivot in government policy, ordering that all transactions between public and private sectors be moved to a cashless model – a potentially sweeping change for a largely informal economy. The meeting was told that the Digital Public Infrastructure Committee will operate under the Ministry of IT, while the Cashless Pakistan Steering Committee has been formed under the Prime Minister's Secretariat. In a bold pilot move, the meeting was informed that the Ministry of IT plans to make Islamabad Pakistan's first fully cashless city under the Smart Islamabad project – a digital litmus test for the rest of the country. Sharif emphasised that channelling funds through formal banking systems could help finance development projects and attract investor confidence. The inclusion of fintech in the broader ecosystem was also highlighted as a strategic pillar. The meeting was attended by key members of Sharif's cabinet, including ministers for economic affairs, IT, petroleum, and climate change, along with the governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and heads of major regulatory bodies. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
