Technology

IT Ministry to Dissolve NITB as Part of Federal Government’s Restructuring Plan

The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoIT&T) has commenced a comprehensive rightsizing exercise in accordance with the recommendations of the federal government’s rightsizing committee. The objective of this action is to reduce expenses and optimize operations.

The MoIT&T has eliminated 17 positions, while 7 more have been categorized as “dying cadres.” The retirement of the current holders of these positions in 2026 will lead to no replacements, resulting in annual savings estimated at around Rs. 25 million. In the latest update, the officer-to-staff ratio has seen a modification from 1.25 to 1.20.

The National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC) is set to implement a significant restructuring initiative aimed at halving its organizational framework. The ministry has forwarded the issue to P3A for additional deliberations, and a consultant has been engaged to complete the rightsizing strategy.

A comprehensive evaluation of the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) is set to take place, with findings anticipated to be submitted to the Prime Minister in the next three months. An assessment will be conducted regarding the intersection of roles between PSEB and the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP).

The Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA) is set to introduce a finalized draft bill to the National Assembly after consultations with stakeholders. To guarantee the early passage of the Digital Nation Pakistan Act 2024, efforts are being made to expedite the legislative process.

The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training now has control over Virtual University. The National Information Technology Board (NITB) will be shut down in the meantime. The acquisition of software and IT equipment will henceforth be handled separately by the appropriate purchasing bodies.

The implementation plan in summary is as follows:

No. Entities Finalized Proposals Implementation
1 Ministry of IT & Telecom Officer-to-staff ratio to be reduced from 1.25 to 1.20 Implemented. 17 positions abolished; 7 declared as dying cadre. Savings of Rs. 25 million annually.
2 National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC) Structure to be made 50% lean Under Implementation. Referred to P3A for consultant engagement and final decision.
3 Ignite (National Technology Fund) Entity to be retained Third-party review to be carried out.
4 Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) Performance review and overlap with TDAP to be assessed Report to be presented to the Prime Minister within three months.
5 Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA) Draft Bill to be finalized in consultation with stakeholders Draft Bill finalized and introduced in the National Assembly for passage.
6 Virtual University To be placed under the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training Implemented.
7 National Information Technology Board (NITB) NITB to be wound up  

 

Sponsored
Tehniyat Zafar

Share
Published by
Tehniyat Zafar

Recent Posts

3 Million Users Uninstall PayPal’s Honey Extension After Backlash

PayPal's Honey extension, popular for finding coupon codes, has faced criticism due to unethical practices.…

30 mins ago

Banking Sector’s ADR Shows Significant Recovery from 38.4% to 51.8% in Q4 2024

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has reported a remarkable increase of Rs. 700 billion…

2 hours ago

Google to Introduce “Link to Text Fragment” Feature for PDF Reader in Chrome

Google is enhancing its Chrome PDF reader with the addition of the "Link to Text…

2 hours ago

Top Contributors to PSX’s 84% Surge in 2024

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) experienced a remarkable surge in 2024, with the benchmark KSE-100…

4 hours ago

PTI Urges Government to Reform Internet Policies Amid $1.62 Billion Loss from Throttling in 2024

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has strongly criticized the government for allegedly imposing internet restrictions under…

6 hours ago

Elon Musk Confirms Starlink’s Pakistan Launch Awaits Government Approval

Elon Musk has confirmed that Starlink is in discussions with Pakistani Government and awaits regulatory…

7 hours ago