The government has formally established the Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA) and appointed its first chairperson and member, following the recommendations of the Search and Selection Committee constituted earlier this year.
Prime Minister has appointed Dr. Sohail Munir as Chairperson and Muhammad J Sear as Member Pakistan Digital Authority, under the Ministry of IT and Telecom.
Both appointments are made on a contract basis for a period of five years. The Cabinet Division has issued the notification of appointment. The move marks a major step towards operationalizing the authority under the Digital Nation Pakistan Act, 2025.
The Search and Selection Committee, chaired by Minister for IT Shaza Fatima, had been tasked with identifying and recommending qualified professionals for the key roles.
Other members of the committee included the Minister for Economic Affairs, Minister of State for Railways, Minister of State for Finance, along with the secretaries of establishment, cabinet, and IT & telecom divisions, as well as Salman Akhtar, member of the Pakistan Revenue Automation Ltd (PRAL) Board.
After evaluating shortlisted candidates, the committee forwarded three names for each position to the prime minister, who approved the appointments. The new chairperson and member of the PDA will now lead the authority in its formative phase, setting the foundation for its structure, policies, and functions.
The PDA has been entrusted with the responsibility to develop, implement, and monitor the National Digital Master Plan, which will serve as the blueprint for Pakistan’s digital transformation. In addition, the authority will design a monitoring and evaluation framework for digital projects across the country to ensure transparency and effective implementation.
The establishment of the PDA is part of a broader digital governance framework outlined in the Digital Nation Pakistan Act, 2025, which also includes the creation of the Strategic Oversight Committee (SOC) and the National Digital Commission (NDC). Together, these institutions aim to drive innovation, enhance digital governance, and position Pakistan as a competitive player in the global digital economy.