The federal government has announced an ambitious plan to transform Islamabad into Pakistan’s first pilot smart city, unveiling a range of digital infrastructure and education initiatives that promise to reshape life in the capital.
Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja has revealed details of the initiative after a recent meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology. Shaza emphasized that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has given the directive to the Ministry of IT to lead the conversion of Islamabad into a model for smart, tech-driven urban living.
Fiber Connectivity for Schools, Hospitals, Police
A key pillar of the plan is massive fiberization across the city. The Ministry of IT has allocated funding to bring high-speed fiber connectivity to all public schools, Basic Health Units (BHUs), and health sector facilities in Islamabad.
In the upcoming six to eight months, fiber broadband is expected to reach
- Hospitals
- Schools
- Police stations, modernizing critical public services
Selected metro bus stations and other public spaces will also be equipped with free public Wi-Fi through public-private partnerships—making the city more connected and accessible for everyone.
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EdTech and AI from Kindergarten Onward
On the education front, Shaza Fatima laid out an ambitious vision to integrate technology into classrooms from an early age. Emerging technologies—including Artificial Intelligence (AI)—will be introduced from kindergarten through grade six.
“This is about ensuring that every child in Islamabad has access to modern learning opportunities,” she explained. “We desire to capitalize on technology to bridge educational gaps, especially in remote areas.”
EdTech solutions will help deliver quality education to far-flung regions, expanding opportunities and supporting the government’s broader push for educational equity.
Healthcare now receives a Digital Upgrade
The smart city plan also includes a health-sector revamp. The IT ministry by partnering with Ministry of Health is rolling out the “One Patient, One ID” initiative to create unified patient records and enable telemedicine. Internet connectivity will be extended to all BHUs to support remote consultations—improving access to healthcare for underserved communities.
Massive Youth Training Drive
The government is also emphasizing on workforce development.
The plan is to train approximately 500,000 young masses in advanced IT skills.
And among 500,000
- Google will train 200,000
- 300,000 will be trained by Huawei
- 200,000 by Microsoft
These programs are designed to make Pakistani youth eligible for global-standard IT jobs and enhance their participation in the digital economy.
What benefits will Islamabad have?
These initiatives are expected to bring major improvements for the masses of Islamabad:
• Faster, more reliable internet in schools, colleges, hospitals, and public spaces.
• Better education for children, with AI and tech skills, which will be taught from the earliest grades.
• Improved healthcare access through telemedicine and shared patient records.
• Job opportunities for youth trained in world-class IT programs.
• A more connected, modern city that sets the standard for smart urban development in Pakistan.
All-inclusively, the government is hoping to build a blueprint for smart cities all over the country, which will open the way for
- A digitally empowered
- Inclusive
- Innovative Pakistan