Islamabad – Pakistan is accelerating its journey toward a digitally empowered economy under the government’s “Digital Nation Pakistan 2025” initiative, a comprehensive vision aimed at transforming the country’s financial, industrial, and governance landscape. Advisor to the Finance Minister, Khurram Schehzad, elaborated on the plan during his address at the FinTech Forward Forum, held as part of the 27th ITCN Asia at the Expo Center.
Schehzad emphasized that the initiative goes beyond mere digitization projects. It envisions a holistic shift where digital platforms underpin all government operations, financial transactions, and citizen engagement. He highlighted the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA), which will provide crypto holders with a formal channel to participate in the digital economy, while tax incentives for investors are currently under consideration.
Currently, 99 percent of government files are processed digitally across ministries through the E-Office platform. Schehzad noted that this system has eliminated issues like data loss and delays in decision-making, while enabling performance tracking to ensure transparency and accountability. The government aims to establish 120 million bank accounts and make all government-to-government (G2G) transactions fully digital, transitioning the public sector to a completely digital foundation by the end of this year.
Schehzad also outlined plans to incentivize entrepreneurship and skills development. Small loans are being provided to SMEs, agriculture, and youth to encourage self-sufficiency, while skill bonds are being issued to reward trained professionals. Special incentives for investors are also being discussed under Pakistan’s industrial policy framework, signaling a broader effort to strengthen the digital and financial ecosystem.
On regulatory developments, he stated that a framework for virtual assets is being formulated. Drawing lessons from the UAE’s successful virtual assets regulatory model, Pakistan is proceeding cautiously to implement measures aligned with global best practices, ensuring investor protection and financial stability.
The advisor emphasized that the government’s role is to provide a supportive policy environment for innovation. This includes fostering FinTech adoption, enabling emerging technologies, and empowering youth to contribute meaningfully to the digital economy.
The session concluded with a focus on balanced policymaking, innovation-friendly regulations, and adherence to international standards. “Digital Nation Pakistan 2025 is not just about technology; it is about creating a sustainable, transparent, and inclusive digital economy,” Schehzad stated, reinforcing the government’s commitment to positioning Pakistan as a forward-looking digital hub in the region.
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