Pakistan Saves Billions as Federal Ministries Go Fully Paperless with e-Office Rollout

The federal government has reportedly saved up to Rs9.5 billion in just one year following the complete implementation of the e-Office system across ministries and divisions, Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunications Shiza Fatima claimed on Tuesday.

According to Shiza Fatima, the move toward a paperless workflow has led to a substantial reduction in expenditure on stationery, paper, and other office supplies. The elimination of traditional file-based processes has also enhanced transparency and efficiency across federal departments.

“By adopting e-Office fully at the federal level, financial management has improved significantly. All government work is now conducted digitally,” she said. The system allows the prime minister to monitor the progress of each official file directly via a digital dashboard, while delayed files are automatically flagged in red.

Out of 1,400 federal departments, approximately 300 ministries and regulatory bodies have transitioned to the e-Office platform, and following a memorandum of understanding with the Supreme Court, the judiciary has also moved to the digital system.

According to the Accountant General Pakistan Revenues (AGPR), the first year of e-Office implementation has yielded savings amounting to Rs9.5 billion. The initiative has also reduced the need for about 60 percent of lower-tier staff, including stenographers and dispatch personnel.

To address the impact on affected employees, the government is reportedly developing reskilling and upskilling programs, leveraging AI and digital tools to ensure the workforce remains employable in the new digital environment.

Shiza Fatima highlighted that the adoption of e-Office not only saves costs but also strengthens institutional efficiency, making Pakistan one of the few countries with a fully digitized federal administrative workflow.

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