ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is exploring the development of an artificial intelligence-powered government portal modeled on the newly launched America.gov, as the country moves to expand the use of AI in public services and build a more unified digital government system.
The initiative comes as the United States has launched America.gov as a single digital gateway for federal government services, using AI to help citizens find information and navigate government processes through natural-language queries. The platform is designed to reduce the need for citizens to search through multiple government websites and agencies.
Pakistan’s move is being considered in the broader push toward a National Digital Masterplan, with the Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA) positioned as the country’s apex body for digital governance, data and AI regulation, and citizen-facing digital services.
The PDA says its mandate includes building secure and interoperable digital public infrastructure and delivering simpler, more seamless digital services for citizens. It is also responsible for implementing Pakistan’s National Data Governance Policy and has been developing frameworks for the country’s responsible adoption of artificial intelligence.
Under the proposed approach, an AI-enabled government portal could eventually provide citizens with a single entry point for accessing information and government services instead of requiring them to visit separate websites and portals operated by individual ministries and departments.
Such a system could allow users to describe what they need in ordinary language, with AI helping identify the relevant government service, information or department. Depending on the level of integration, the platform could eventually move beyond providing information to helping citizens initiate and complete digital government processes.
The idea reflects a wider shift in how governments are approaching digital public infrastructure. Instead of building numerous independent online portals, governments are increasingly looking toward interconnected systems that can allow citizens to access multiple services through a common digital interface.
For Pakistan, the challenge will be integrating existing government databases, departmental systems and online services while maintaining data security, privacy and accountability.
The country’s digital transformation agenda is already moving toward greater coordination between government institutions. The federal government said on September 28 that the National Digital Masterplan is being advanced around digital governance, digital economy and digital society, with the aim of producing practical outcomes across different sectors.
The PDA has also highlighted the development of WASL, Pakistan’s National Data Exchange Layer, as part of the country’s digital infrastructure. The system is intended to enable public institutions to share data through secure and governed pathways.
An AI-powered national portal could therefore become another layer in Pakistan’s emerging digital-government architecture, connecting citizens with information and services while reducing fragmentation between government departments.
However, building such a platform would require more than an AI interface. Effective implementation would depend on interoperable government systems, reliable digital infrastructure, accurate public-sector data, cybersecurity safeguards and clear rules governing how AI systems access and process government information.
Pakistan’s own AI governance framework is also evolving. The PDA says the Islamabad AI Declaration establishes principles for AI adoption in Pakistan, including public value and human accountability.
The proposed direction could mark a significant change in the way citizens interact with the state if Pakistan is able to connect its existing digital services behind a common, secure and user-friendly interface.
For millions of Pakistanis who currently have to navigate separate government websites, offices and digital platforms to obtain basic services, the broader objective is clear: making government services easier to find, understand and access through one digital front door.
