National Information Technology Board

The National Information Technology Board (NITB) is a government agency under the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication in Pakistan. It was established to improve communication and operational efficiency within government organizations.

History
NITB was initially formed as an attached department of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication. However, after the passage of the National Information Technology Board Act, of 2022, its status was changed to an autonomous body.

The National Information Technology Board Act, 2022 was enacted to provide for the establishment of the NITB. The Act was approved by the President of Pakistan Arif Alvi under Article 75 of the Constitution of Pakistan. This Act covers the establishment of the Board, its composition, the appointment of the CEO, meetings of the Board, powers and functions of the Board and other related matters.

Role and functions
NITB is responsible for implementing e-governance across the country as per the vision and policy of the Federal Government. Its objective is to serve the public in a more efficient and effective manner through the provision of e-governance software applications to advisories, consultancies, and federal ministries and divisions. NITB has developed and launched more than 31 portals and more than 15 mobile applications in the last four years.

Beep Pakistan
NITB launched Pakistan's first communication application "Beep Pakistan" under the leadership of Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Syed Aminul Haque. This application is intended to be a homegrown alternative to WhatsApp and aims for secure and efficient digital communication between government officials and employees.

Controversies
Some controversies have emerged regarding NITB's tendering process for skilled IT-HR outsourcing8. Some participating firms raised questions against the process, alleging that the selection criteria were specifically designed to favor one of the potential bidders.