Pakistan’s Cloud First Policy is gaining momentum as six cloud service providers have formally applied for accreditation under the initiative. The development signals growing confidence in the government’s digital transformation strategy and increased private sector engagement in the country’s cloud ecosystem.
The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) confirmed the update in the National Assembly, stating that it has received six applications from companies seeking recognition as accredited cloud service providers. These applications are currently under review and assessment by the ministry.
The information was shared in a written response by Federal Minister for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja. The reply was submitted in response to a question raised by Member of the National Assembly Syeda Amnah Batool regarding progress on the Cloud First Policy.
According to the minister, the accreditation process is being carried out to ensure that cloud service providers meet the government’s standards for security, reliability, and regulatory compliance. The Cloud First Policy aims to encourage government departments to prioritize cloud-based solutions for data storage, application hosting, and digital service delivery.
The policy is a key pillar of Pakistan’s broader digital governance agenda. By shifting government operations to the cloud, authorities hope to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance service accessibility for citizens and businesses.
In addition to reviewing private sector applications, the ministry has also examined the potential use of Pakistan’s locally hosted Artificial Intelligence Cloud and Data Centre established by Data Vault Pakistan. This facility represents a significant step toward strengthening domestic digital infrastructure.
The AI Cloud and Data Centre were launched in November through a collaboration with global technology company Nvidia. The initiative is designed to provide advanced computing capabilities within Pakistan while maintaining sovereign control over sensitive data.
Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja informed the House that the infrastructure includes sovereign AI solutions, GPU-as-a-Service, and AI Cloud capabilities. These features are expected to support a wide range of government digital services, including data analytics, automation, and artificial intelligence-driven applications.
A major advantage of the locally hosted facility is its ability to ensure data residency within Pakistan. This is considered critical for safeguarding sensitive government information and meeting national cybersecurity and regulatory requirements.
The minister emphasized that such infrastructure could help the government adopt advanced technologies without compromising on security or compliance. Local hosting also reduces dependence on foreign data centers, aligning with Pakistan’s long-term digital sovereignty goals.
Technology experts believe the interest shown by cloud service providers reflects increasing maturity in Pakistan’s IT sector. The Cloud First Policy is seen as a catalyst for innovation, encouraging both local and international firms to invest in cloud and data center services.
As the assessment process continues, the government is expected to finalize accreditation decisions in the coming months. Once approved, accredited providers will be eligible to offer cloud services to public sector entities.
The growing uptake of the Cloud First Policy highlights Pakistan’s efforts to modernize governance through technology. With structured policies and secure infrastructure in place, the country is positioning itself to accelerate digital adoption across the public sector.
