PM moves to introduce real-time digital oversight across federal ministries

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided to revamp the government’s monitoring system through real-time digital oversight as part of the Digital Nation Pakistan Initiative, according to an official statement issued on Wednesday.

The Press Information Department (PID) said Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Cheema chaired a meeting to review the Prime Minister’s Office System (PMOS), which it described as an AI-powered platform aimed at improving governance, coordination and oversight of government initiatives across ministries and departments. The review session was attended by Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, IT Secretary Zarrar Hasham Khan, Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA) Chairman Sohail Munir, and senior officials from the Prime Minister’s Office and relevant ministries.

According to the PID, officials from the PDA gave a detailed presentation on the system and briefed participants on its core functions. The statement said the platform would link all federal ministries with the Prime Minister’s Office through a centralised digital interface, enabling real-time tracking of tasks, projects and milestones to strengthen transparency, accountability and efficiency in government operations.

The statement added that directives issued by the Prime Minister’s Office would be sent instantly to ministries and departments through the platform. It said the system would also support immediate progress tracking and performance monitoring so decision-makers could stay updated on the status of key assignments and initiatives.

Key features of the proposed system

The PID said PMOS includes an automated alert mechanism that flags overdue assignments through pop-up notifications on the accounts of federal secretaries and other concerned officials. According to the statement, the feature is intended to improve timely execution of official directives and follow-up on pending matters.

The meeting was also briefed on a sovereign AI-based GPT-powered research system developed by the PDA. The PID said the tool had been designed to support internal government research by using previous directives, decisions and official orders, allowing quicker access to institutional knowledge and more informed decision-making.

According to the statement, the GPT-based system is also intended to function as a virtual assistant for government officers with an understanding of official procedures and workflows. It said the tool would be capable of helping officers carry out and complete official assignments through artificial intelligence, with the stated aim of improving productivity, efficiency and service delivery across departments.

Government’s digital governance push

Cheema praised the PDA’s work on the AI-powered PMOS and said the system had the potential to modernise governance in the public sector. The PID said he instructed relevant stakeholders to further improve the platform before wider implementation to ensure effectiveness, ease of use and operational performance.

Cheema was quoted in the statement as saying:

Pakistan is progressing towards an AI-based digital governance system aimed at improving efficiency, transparency and public service delivery.

He added:

The Prime Minister’s Office System (PMOS) will serve as a key facilitator in the implementation of the National Digital Masterplan by strengthening inter-ministerial coordination and digital integration.

According to the PID, Cheema also said that citizen-oriented digital services already being provided through platforms such as Asaan Khidmat Markaz and other digital forums were part of the government’s broader reform agenda. He further said initiatives including digital tax enforcement systems and other technology-led governance measures would continue to expand as part of efforts to build a more modern, responsive and accountable public sector.

The official statement said the meeting ended with a commitment to use digital technologies and artificial intelligence to strengthen governance, improve service delivery and promote a more responsive and accountable government framework.

The development came as the initiative coincided with media speculation about a possible reshuffle in the federal cabinet after parliament passes the 2026-27 federal budget later this month.