PSDE conference calls for smart governance

Islamabad:The 38th Annual General Meeting and Conference of Pakistan Society of Development Economists (PSDE) concluded here wrapping up three days of dynamic discussions, presentations, and policy dialogues.

Organised by Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) in collaboration with Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives (MoPD&SI), Asian Development Bank (ADB), Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF), Research for Social Transformation and Advancement (RASTA), CPEC Centre of Excellence and the Bank of Punjab.

In the final day, Senator Ishaq Dar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, emphasised the pivotal role of provincial governments in shaping Pakistan’s digital future. Drawing from his involvement in the 18th Constitutional Amendment and the 2009 NFC Award, Senator Dar highlighted the need for provinces to demonstrate tangible results now that they hold greater autonomy and fiscal resources. He stressed the importance of digitisation at the grassroots level, advocating for smart schools, e-governance and real-time data systems as essential tools for national development. He called for innovation to be led by provinces, citing examples such as digital agriculture in KP, education reforms in Gilgit-Baltistan and climate resilience in Sindh.

Earlier, Mohammad J Sear, EY MENA’s Digital Government & Public Sector Leader, in his Mahbubul Haq Memorial Lecture challenged traditional definitions of state power in an increasingly digitised world. He argued that in the modern era, sovereignty includes control over data, digital infrastructure and cyber platforms.

Rana Ihsaan Afzal Khan, Coordinator to the Prime Minister, echoed these sentiments and described data as “the new oil.” He updated the audience on legislative efforts to enable a cashless economy and promote national data governance.

The discussions revealed key insights into the challenges and opportunities Pakistan faces in its digital transition. Despite limitations, there is growing momentum across sectors and provinces toward embracing technology as a driver of growth, inclusion, and resilience, the discussants observed.