E-Office Initiative Saves Govt Rs. 9.5 Billion in First Year: IT Minister

The federal government has saved up to Rs. 9.5 billion in just one year following the full-scale shift to the e-office system, Federal Minister for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima said. She stated that the transition has ended paper-based file work across ministries and greatly improved transparency, efficiency, and financial management. Speaking to reporters, the minister said that the office has been implemented 100 percent at the federal level, allowing the Prime Minister to view any file directly from his dashboard. The platform displays the exact location of files, how long they have been pending, and any notes that have been added. Files that remain stuck automatically appear in red, helping to address longstanding issues of delays and weak accountability. She added that the Supreme Court has also adopted the e-office system under an MoU with the Ministry of IT. Shaza Fatima shared that out of 425 federal departments and regulatory bodies, 300 have already shifted to e-office, while the remaining entities are in the process of adoption. According to an estimate by the Accountant General Pakistan Revenues, the government saved up to Rs. 9.5 billion in the first year, mainly through a steep decline in the use of stationery, printing, and other supplies required for manual file movement. However, the minister acknowledged that digital transformation has created redundancy in almost 60 percent of lower staff positions, especially roles like stenotypists and dispatch writers. She said the Ministry of IT is working on programs to upskill and reskill such employees so they can remain relevant in the new digital environment. The goal is to train staff in artificial intelligence and digital tools so they can be absorbed into modern government workflows. She noted that the government’s aim is not only to digitize paperwork but also to transform the workforce, making it capable of operating effectively in a technology-driven governance system.