ISLAMABAD (August 6): Experts from government institutions, media, academia, the technology sector, civil society and development organizations called for coordinated national efforts to build a trusted, inclusive and democratic digital ecosystem that promotes responsible innovation, safeguards fundamental rights, strengthens information integrity and ensures that emerging technologies serve the public interest. They expressed these views at the Pakistan Digital Democracy Dialogue 2026, organized by Freedom Gate Prosperity (FGP) in collaboration with Accountability Lab and DDI South Asia, with the theme “Digital Pakistan for All: Trust, Rights and Responsible Innovation.”
The dialogue brought together experts from diverse backgrounds to deliberate on information integrity, digital civic space, artificial intelligence, digital governance, and inclusive digital transformation in Pakistan.
Mr Murtaza Solangi, Spokesperson to the President of Pakistan, who also chaired the first session, highlighted the growing importance of information integrity in the digital era. He observed that while digital platforms have democratized access to information, they have also amplified misinformation and polarization. He stressed that strengthening democratic resilience requires credible institutions, responsible media, informed citizens, and continuous dialogue among all stakeholders.
Brigadier Dr. Muhammad Mukarram Khan, Director General, Cyber Vigilance Division, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), emphasized that digital trust and cybersecurity have become fundamental pillars of national resilience. He said Pakistan must continue to strengthen institutional preparedness to counter cyber threats, online fraud, identity theft, and emerging digital risks, while ensuring that technological progress remains secure, citizen-centric, and rights-based.
Professor Dr. Yasar Ayaz, Chairman of the National Centre of Artificial Intelligence (NCAI), said Artificial Intelligence presents enormous opportunities for improving governance, education, healthcare and economic productivity. He underlined the need for Pakistan to invest in indigenous AI research, ethical governance frameworks, and human capital so that technological advancement remains inclusive, transparent, and beneficial to society.
Earlier, Muhammad Anwar, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Freedom Gate Prosperity, welcomed the participants and said FGP has consistently promoted constructive dialogue on Pakistan’s critical policy and development challenges by bringing together diverse stakeholders from government, academia, media, civil society and the private. He emphasized that the challenge before Pakistan is to protect citizens’ freedoms and rights while fostering a culture of responsible digital citizenship, ethical innovation and shared accountability.
Sharjeel Murtaza, Chief Digital Officer at Karandaaz Pakistan, highlighted the transformative role of digital public infrastructure in improving service delivery and financial inclusion. He said digital innovation should simplify citizens’ interaction with public institutions while expanding access to opportunities for underserved communities.
Ms Farhat Javed Rabani, Correspondent with BBC Eye Investigations, underscored the critical role of ethical journalism and fact-based reporting in preserving public trust. She said strengthening investigative journalism and enhancing media literacy are essential to counter misinformation and promote an informed digital society. While leading event discourse, Urooj Raza Sayyami, Board Member of FGP, observed that digital transformation should ultimately strengthen democratic participation, public trust and citizen empowerment.
Ms Sidra Jalil, Founder of InspireMill and President of OPEN Islamabad, emphasized that Pakistan’s digital future depends on empowering entrepreneurs, innovators and women leaders. She called for stronger support for startups, digital skills development and innovate on ecosystems that enable young people to participate meaningfully in the country’s digital economy.
During the second session on Inclusive Digital Transformation, AI and GovTech, participants explored ways to accelerate responsible digital innovation while ensuring equitable access to technology and public services. Chaired and moderated this session, Dr. Saad S. Khan, Additional Secretary, Revenue Division, Ministry of Finance, emphasized that digital transformation should be accompanied by institutional coordination, regulatory coherence and citizen-centric governance. He noted that harnessing emerging technologies effectively requires collaboration among government, academia, industry, and civil society to deliver efficient, transparent, and inclusive public services.
Ali Asghar, Chairman of the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD), highlighted the importance of digital literacy as a cornerstone of inclusive national development. He stressed that technology can only become an effective tool for progress when citizens possess the knowledge and skills to use it safely, responsibly and productively.
Raza Ali Shah, CEO of the Peace and Justice Network (PJN), emphasized that digital inclusion should be accompanied by efforts to promote social cohesion, civic engagement and responsible online behavior. He said technology should serve as a bridge for dialogue, understanding and peaceful coexistence.
Representing Accountability Lab, Ali Imran reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to promoting democratic values, accountable governance and citizen participation through technology and innovation. He said sustainable digital transformation must be accompanied by transparency, inclusion and collaborative partnerships that empower citizens and strengthen democratic institutions.
The session also featured interventions from experts representing digital innovation, entrepreneurship and public policy, who underscored the importance of ethical AI, citizen-centric digital services, stronger institutional coordination and sustained investment in digital skills and innovation ecosystems.
Concluding the dialogue, Shafqat Aziz, Strategic Policy Advisor at FGP, presented the key recommendations emerging from the discussions. He called for a multi-stakeholder national framework on information integrity, accelerated inclusive digital transformation, responsible AI governance, enhanced digital literacy and cyber safety, stronger protection of digital rights, closer collaboration among academia, government and industry, and institutionalized policy dialogue to guide Pakistan’s digital future.