We have heard about “Digital Pakistan” for years. Usually, it just means a new website that crashes on launch day. But still, we have to talk about the potential of the digital services in Pakistan.
But this December, things look different. The government, in collaboration with NADRA and the Ministry of IT, is launching the pilot phase of the National Data Exchange Layer (NDEL).
That sounds like boring tech jargon, but here is what it actually means for you: 100 government services are targeted to go fully online this month.
The goal? A “One-Stop Shop” where you never have to visit a government office again.
What Services Are Going Online?
While the full list of 100 is rolling out in batches, here are the heavy hitters confirmed for this pilot phase:
- ID Card Services: Renewal, modification, and family registration certificates (FRC) fully via mobile.
- Power Sector: Paying electricity bills and applying for new connections without visiting the DISCO office.
- Education: HEC degree verification and attestation (no more courier nightmares).
- Local Govt: Birth certificates, death certificates, and domicile management.
- Business: “Asaan Karobar” registration for small businesses (linking with the Punjab PITB portal).
The Secret Sauce: What is NDEL?
The reason government apps sucked before was that departments didn’t talk to each other. If you wanted a domicile, the DC office couldn’t see your NADRA data, so you had to print it out and carry it there.
NDEL changes that. It is a secure “data highway” that lets different departments (NADRA, FBR, HEC) share your data instantly.
- Old Way: Go to NADRA -> Get print -> Go to DC Office -> Submit print.
- New Way: Log in to App -> App pulls NADRA data automatically -> You click “Submit.”
The “Raza Rants” Reality Check
Look, on paper, this is brilliant. It is exactly what Pakistan needs to kill the “agent mafia” and corruption at lower levels.
- The Risk: Can the servers handle it? If 200,000 people try to renew their ID cards on Day 1, will the system crash?
- The Hope: If this works, the days of waking up at 6 AM to stand in line for a token are finally over.
Which service do you want to see go online the most? Passport renewal? Land records? Let me know below!