PM Directs Federal Institutions to Use Sky47 Data Centre

Key Takeaways

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed federal institutions to use the newly established national central data centre, Sky47.
The move aims to create a unified government data infrastructure and prevent duplication of resources.
Priority sectors including health, agriculture, utilities, housing, and SMEs will be brought under the digital framework.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed federal institutions to immediately utilise the newly established national central data centre, Sky47. This directive was given during a review meeting on the implementation of the National Integrated Digital Policy Framework. The prime minister highlighted that a single public-sector data centre would serve as a central repository for government-held information and help prevent duplication of resources.

Speaking at the meeting, Sharif stated, 'Preventing the establishment of separate data centres by different institutions will help save national resources.' He further emphasised the importance of implementing the National Digital Vision to develop an integrated digital society. The prime minister directed that priority sectors such as health, agriculture, utilities, housing, and SMEs should be brought under the digital framework first.

The completion of the National Digital Vision is expected to allow citizens to access a range of public services through a single digital identity platform, including document verification, banking facilities, healthcare services, and financial transfers. The prime minister also directed that a meeting of the National Digital Commission be convened soon to take all stakeholders into confidence on the policy.

Officials informed the meeting that the National Digital Commission had been established under the Digital Nation Pakistan Act 2025, with the prime minister as its chairman and all provincial chief ministers as members. Work is underway on digitising key sectors such as agriculture, food, health, energy, housing, and SMEs. Additionally, 14 other priority areas identified by the prime minister are also being addressed.

The digital framework for housing will introduce a centralised identification system for private and government properties, while the SME initiative aims to establish a mechanism for unique legal identification of businesses to improve productivity. Required legal, administrative, and institutional measures for implementing the National Digital Vision are being finalised, with input from global experts, international organisations, and best practices incorporated into the process.

The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal, Information Minister Shaza Fatima, SBP Governor Jameel Ahmad, and other officials. The prime minister's directive underscores his commitment to transforming government services and improving the delivery of citizen-focused services through digital systems.