Pakistan could generate $60 billion to $80 billion in economic gains over the next five years through digital transformation, according to a briefing by the Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA) to the National Assembly Standing Committee on IT and Telecom.

The proposed reforms aim to improve economic growth, modernize public services and expand the digital economy by connecting government systems and introducing digital solutions across major industries.

Pakistan has already developed more than 100 digital platforms and introduced several digital initiatives. However, disconnected systems, bureaucratic inefficiencies and weak coordination between institutions are preventing the country from fully benefiting from these investments, the briefing said.

To address these challenges, the PDA has proposed a national digital transformation framework built around a National Digital Masterplan, digital public infrastructure, common technical standards and coordinated implementation across government departments.

The framework also calls for stronger cooperation between federal and provincial governments to link existing platforms, prevent duplication of investments and make public services more efficient.

Agriculture, healthcare, real estate, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), commerce and retail have been identified as key areas for potential economic gains.

According to the briefing, digital transformation could generate more than $9 billion in agriculture-related gains by 2030. It could also deliver $450 million in healthcare savings, attract an additional $15 billion in real estate investment and generate $6 billion in additional revenue for SMEs, commerce and retail.

The PDA has also proposed developing a Pakistan Digital Stack, secure data-sharing infrastructure and common digital standards to connect public institutions and integrate existing systems. Better data governance and the wider adoption of artificial intelligence are also part of the proposed framework.

The initiative aims to move Pakistan beyond its existing collection of digital platforms towards a more connected system for public services and economic activity.

However, the projected gains are estimates, not money already generated or guaranteed savings. Achieving them will depend on the government’s ability to implement the proposed reforms, coordinate federal and provincial institutions and integrate digital systems that currently operate separately.