By Ayesha Saba

The German Development Bank, KfW, will provide €16 million to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to support the Digital Governance Pakistan project aimed at strengthening e-governance initiatives and digital infrastructure in the province.

According to a document available with Wealth Pakistan, the project seeks to modernise public sector digital systems and improve institutional capacity by developing advanced ICT infrastructure and expanding citizen-centric digital services across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It will be implemented by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Technology Board (KPITB) and is scheduled to close on December 30, 2027.

Recent updates indicate that PC-1 approval is still pending, while the process for hiring the project implementation consultant has been launched. A revised and rationalised PC-1 has been shared and approved by the industries section and cleared in the pre-PDWP meeting, while revenue clearance from the Finance Department is still awaited.

The document shows that the total estimated project cost stands at Rs3,200 million, while the grant commitment amounts to €16 million.

The project includes the establishment of a modern KPITB data centre to provide secure and reliable digital infrastructure for government departments, enabling efficient data management, cloud services, and improved cybersecurity. It also aims to develop an integrated ICT architecture and interoperability framework that will allow government departments to share data and coordinate efficiently, reducing duplication and improving transparency and decision-making.

In addition, the initiative will expand the services of citizen facility centres across the province to improve access to government services, particularly in remote and underserved areas, by providing digital documentation, licensing, and administrative services on a single platform.

The project also focuses on promoting digital inclusion by providing digital skills training to women, youth, and marginalised groups to enhance employability and participation in the digital economy, while institutional capacity-building measures will strengthen government departments through technical support and training to ensure effective implementation of e-governance initiatives.

Credit: INP-WealthPk