Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal Visits Department of Government Enablement in Abu Dhabi
Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal Visits Department of Government Enablement in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi: Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal, paid an official visit to the Department of Government Enablement (DGE) in Abu Dhabi, where he met with His Excellency Ahmed Tamim Hisham Al Kuttab, Chairman of DGE. The meeting focused on learning from the United Arab Emirates’ pioneering experience in leveraging artificial intelligence, big data, and digital technologies to modernize governance, enhance public service delivery, and drive sustainable economic growth.
Professor Ahsan Iqbal met with UAE officials to discuss transformation on use of technology and presented Uraan Pakistan. Both sides agreed to share technology exchange and saw their work and how they will help Pakistan. They agreed to support Pakistan and bring it to modernize Pakistan, and the Minister is taking solid steps—reaching out to UAE for global best practices. Bringing the best of global practices to modernise Pakistan. UAE and Pakistan agreed on sharing technology practices in the public sector.
During the interaction, Professor Ahsan Iqbal commended the UAE’s visionary leadership in embracing digital transformation and institutional innovation. He took particular note of flagship platforms such as TAMM, which have streamlined government-citizen interactions and improved administrative efficiency. Highlighting Pakistan’s Uraan Pakistan initiative—an ambitious national development vision to transform Pakistan into a competitive, knowledge-based economy by 2047—he emphasized the central role of e-governance, data-driven decision-making, and citizen-centric service models in achieving inclusive, transparent, and accountable public institutions.
The Minister expressed the Government of Pakistan’s resolve to integrate digital governance and smart technologies into the core of public sector reform. He expressed interest in institutional collaboration with DGE in the areas of civil service upskilling, AI-supported planning tools, blockchain for public transactions, and interoperability frameworks to enhance delivery of essential services in Pakistan.
Both sides agreed to explore structured avenues for cooperation, including knowledge exchange, capacity building, and pilot initiatives aimed at embedding emerging technologies into governance models. The visit reaffirmed the shared commitment of Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates to deepening institutional linkages, promoting innovation-led development, and fostering regional cooperation in the digital economy.
Professor Ahsan Iqbal also extended an invitation to UAE experts to engage with Pakistan’s Planning Commission and relevant institutions to identify joint initiatives aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), public sector innovation, and the objectives of Uraan Pakistan.
