By Qudsia Bano

China’s latest national development blueprint for the 2026–2030 period places strong emphasis on digital transformation and governance reforms, a strategy that experts say could provide useful guidance for improving Pakistan’s public service delivery and strengthening digital governance systems. The plan highlights the role of digital technologies in enhancing administrative efficiency, expanding access to public services and improving coordination across government institutions.

The outline of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan identifies technological innovation and digital economy as key pillars of the country’s modernization drive. The strategy seeks to strengthen the use of digital technologies in economic management, infrastructure development and social services while expanding the contribution of core digital industries to national output.

According to the development framework, China plans to increase its research and development spending by more than seven percent annually during the five-year period. At the same time, the value added by core digital sectors is expected to reach 12.5 percent of the country’s gross domestic product. These targets reflect Beijing’s broader goal of building a technology-driven governance system that improves efficiency, transparency and responsiveness in public administration.

China has already made significant progress in building digital infrastructure to support governance reforms and economic transformation. The country implemented the “Eastern Data, Western Computing” initiative to optimize data processing and computing resources across regions and launched the Set Sail Action Plan to accelerate large-scale 5G applications.

China currently operates about 4.838 million 5G base stations and has roughly 238 million users with broadband speeds of one gigabit per second or higher. The digital ecosystem is further supported by around 13.73 million server racks that power data centers and cloud computing services across the country. Authorities have also strengthened a national integrated computing network, improved data standards and promoted data annotation bases and digital industry clusters. By 2025, core digital economy industries contributed more than 10.5 percent to China’s GDP.

Digital technologies are increasingly integrated into industrial systems as well. More than 23,000 projects have been launched under the 5G Plus Industrial Internet Initiative, linking telecommunications infrastructure with manufacturing and logistics networks. China has also accelerated the development of a self-reliant artificial intelligence ecosystem and now leads the world in open-source AI models.

Pakistan, like many developing economies, faces persistent challenges in delivering public services efficiently due to administrative bottlenecks, limited institutional capacity and fragmented information systems. Experts say China’s approach demonstrates how digital infrastructure and governance reforms can work together to strengthen state capacity and improve the efficiency of public administration.

China’s strategy centers on building integrated digital platforms that connect government departments and public institutions. By linking data systems across sectors, policymakers can improve decision-making, monitor service delivery and respond more quickly to emerging needs — an approach that could help Pakistan modernize administrative processes and strengthen coordination among government agencies.

Muhammad Wazir, former Director to the Minister at the Ministry of Science and Technology, said Pakistan can significantly improve service delivery by expanding digital governance systems similar to those being developed in China.

He explained that countries with large populations often struggle to provide consistent public services because traditional bureaucratic systems are slow and resource-intensive. Digital platforms, however, allow governments to automate administrative processes and deliver services online, making them more accessible, transparent and efficient.

According to him, China’s emphasis on digital economy growth and technology investment demonstrates how digital infrastructure can become the backbone of modern governance. By expanding broadband connectivity, cloud computing and data-driven systems, governments can significantly reduce delays in service delivery while improving accountability.

Dr. Shahid Siddiqui, Director of the Center for Information and Communication Technology at the University of Engineering and Technology Lahore, said Pakistan can also benefit from studying China’s long-term planning approach to digital governance.

He noted that digital transformation requires more than simply adopting new technologies. Governments must also invest in human capital, establish effective data governance frameworks and implement institutional reforms to ensure that digital systems operate efficiently and securely.

According to him, China’s emphasis on coordinated development and technological innovation shows that digital governance should be embedded within broader economic strategies rather than treated as a standalone initiative. Such an integrated approach can help Pakistan design digital platforms that improve public service delivery while also supporting economic development and administrative modernization.

As Pakistan continues to expand its digital transformation agenda, China’s experience in integrating digital infrastructure, governance reforms and long-term policy planning provides a useful reference for strengthening public administration and improving the quality and reach of government services across the country.

Credit: INP-WealthPk