Federal Cabinet Approves NITB Retention Under MoITT

The federal cabinet has made a pivotal decision, approving the retention of the National Information Technology Board (NITB) under the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT). This move successfully reverses an earlier plan to dissolve the key institution.

The approval was granted under the Rules of Business 1973, following a formal request from the MoITT, which had urged a reconsideration of the previous directive.

Last year, the government’s Rightsizing Committee had decided to abolish the NITB as part of a broader administrative restructuring effort. Under that proposed plan, the procurement of IT equipment and software was slated to be handled independently by each department through their respective procuring agencies, effectively eliminating the centralized role previously played by the NITB.

However, the MoITT submitted a compelling summary, arguing that the NITB remains a critical body for driving essential digital governance initiatives across Pakistan. The ministry underscored the board’s significant contributions to automating government processes, developing vital digital platforms, and providing crucial technical consultancy to various federal departments.

The NITB itself has a history rooted in consolidating public sector IT operations. It was originally formed in 2014 by merging the Pakistan Computer Bureau and the Electronic Government Directorate. More recently, in 2022, it was granted autonomous status through an act of Parliament, providing it with vital financial and operational independence, along with a governing board that includes both public and private sector members.