The federal government’s Cloud First Policy has begun attracting significant interest from technology service providers.
The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication has received six applications from cloud service providers seeking accreditation. These applications are currently under formal assessment by the ministry.
Parliamentary Disclosure
The information was shared in a written response to a question raised in the National Assembly. Minister for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja provided the details during the session. She confirmed that the accreditation process remains ongoing and subject to evaluation criteria.
Review of Local AI Cloud Infrastructure
Meanwhile, the ministry has examined the potential use of Pakistan’s locally hosted AI Cloud and Data Centre. The facility was established by Data Vault Pakistan and launched in November. It was developed in collaboration with Nvidia to support advanced digital infrastructure.
The platform includes sovereign AI capabilities, GPU-as-a-Service, and AI Cloud solutions. According to the minister, this infrastructure could support government digital services securely. It also ensures data residency, cybersecurity protection, and regulatory compliance.
Alignment With National Policies
The initiative aligns with Pakistan’s National AI Policy and Cloud First Policy. However, the minister clarified that the ministry has not formally onboarded the AI Cloud facility. No production workloads have been assigned to the platform so far.
She further stated that Data Vault Pakistan has not submitted an application for accreditation. Therefore, no formal approval process has been initiated at this stage.
Possible Future Adoption
Subject to government procedures, security clearances, and inter-ministerial consultations, future engagement remains possible. The ministry may consider pilot projects and phased adoption of such infrastructure. This approach would ensure controlled deployment and policy compliance.
Potential Use Cases
The minister outlined several areas where cloud and AI infrastructure could be utilized. These include e-governance platforms and digital public service delivery systems. Cybersecurity initiatives such as Security Operations Centres and the national CERT were also highlighted.
Other areas include secure government data hosting, analytics platforms, and sector-specific AI applications. Public sector AI research and innovation could also benefit from such infrastructure.
Global Models and Strategic Vision
Internationally, governments have adopted public-private partnership models for sovereign digital services. Examples include the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, and United Arab Emirates. These models demonstrate coexistence between sovereign AI systems and global cloud services.
According to the minister, strong governance and security frameworks make this possible. Such infrastructure would enhance Pakistan’s national AI compute capacity. It would also support broader digital transformation and policy objectives.
Conclusion
Pakistan’s Cloud First Policy is steadily reshaping the government’s digital strategy. Growing interest from service providers signals confidence in the policy framework. Careful evaluation and phased adoption will determine the policy’s long-term impact on national digital development.
