Sohail Munir, founding chairman of the Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA), joined Chatroom with Shizza for a discussion on Pakistan's digital transformation, the future of its digital economy and efforts to improve public services through technology.
Speaking about Pakistan's digital future, Munir said that the country's digital economy could account for more than half of its overall economy by 2047 if it sustains its current pace of digital transformation.
“Globally, the digital economy is increasing at a pace of 2.5 times the traditional economy,” he said, adding that digitalization could create major opportunities for Pakistan’s youth and businesses.
He further added that the PDA was developing a National Digital Master Plan covering 12 priority sectors, including health, education, food and agriculture, while focusing on citizen-centric digital services.
The founding chairman said that a key priority was establishing a national data exchange layer that would allow information to be securely shared between government entities and the private sector with citizens’ consent.
On a question about partnership with foreign companies and the loopholes there, he said “Who owns my data? It’s me,” stressing that citizens should retain ownership of their personal data while institutions act as custodians.
He also revealed that work was underway on a national “super app” that could provide a single interface for government services, allowing citizens to access services without visiting government offices.
Talking about the healthcare sector, Munir said the transformation would also focus on healthcare, including unified health records and strengthening primary healthcare facilities to reduce pressure on major hospitals.
“Our biggest asset is our youth,” he said, arguing that seamless digital services could help rebuild young Pakistanis’ sense of ownership and engagement with the state.
Watch the full episode of Chatroom with Shizza for the complete conversation.