Urooj Niazi 
pakistan launches its first national open data portal
Pakistan Opens Research and Innovation Access to Open Data Portal
The Government of Pakistan has officially launched the country’s first National Open Data Portal, which is a bold step towards digital transparency. The Open Data Portal will provide public access to government data and will significantly enhance the potential for researchers, journalists, developers of digital products and services, and citizens as a whole to use government information in a way that promotes innovation, improves policy-making and holds the government accountable.
The portal will provide open access to various datasets from different government departments or agencies, including datasets related to health, education, and the economy as well as information on population and infrastructure. The government hopes to support an evidence base that can influence decisions, impact service delivery, and replace misinformation or uncertainty with trust.
Officials at the launch suggested the platform would be regularly updated and refreshed to ensure data is as current and useful as possible. The launch of the National Open Data Portal will also allow the country to be aligned with international standards of open governance, where evidence-informed decision-making and service delivery would ultimately lead to more accountable government, improved citizen services, and an active participatory citizenry, all of which are key to democratic governance. The launch of an Open Data Portal as the first in the country demonstrates the commitments of the Government of Pakistan toward being transparent with data, engaging in digital transformation, and working towards creating an engaged citizenship in the 21st century.
