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Sheba Najmi

Wow, what a year it's been! As I reflect on 2024, I'm filled with gratitude for this incredible community that makes Code for Pakistan thrive. Every milestone, every solution, and every challenge we tackled was made possible by you—our partners, fellows, interns, volunteers, supporters, and team.

This year, we pushed boundaries, launching the 8th cohort of our Government Innovation Fellowship and the Civic Innovator Program, empowering young people to design impactful solutions.

To our dedicated team and supporters: thank you for believing in this mission. Together, let's create an even greater impact in 2025!

Highlights

2024 was a landmark year for Code for Pakistan

Our mission to bridge the gap between citizens and government was recognized on global and national platforms.

Our founder and Executive Director Sheba Najmi received the HUM Women Leadership Award 2024, honoring her meaningful contributions to civic innovation in Pakistan.

In November, we were humbled to see Code for Pakistan's work recognized amongst some incredible global social good work at the Don Norman Design Awards. Three of our flagship projects — FloodLight, KP Women Civic Digital Internship, and Pharmacy Licensing Digitization — received special recognition for harnessing the power of design to address real-world civic challenges that face our communities.

Building on this momentum, we accelerated our impact with the 8th cohort of our Government Innovation Fellowship, empowering fellows to design impactful public service solutions.

In 2024, we launched the Civic Innovator Program, which brings together government, academia, and industry to equip young people with the tools and confidence to create solutions that address their community's needs.

Our work also captured the attention of international media, with the San Diego Union Tribune featuring our civic technology initiatives and Dawn Media highlighting Pakistan's first nationwide Mapathon.

The recognition of Code for Pakistan's work and impact inspires us to drive yet greater positive change for communities across Pakistan.

Impact in Numbers

Starting with People, Not Problems

Improved citizen-government collaboration by designing innovative systems that create meaningful connections and support lasting civic progress.

212

fellows & interns

85

digital services developed

2.2M+

users facilitied

48%

women interns employed

123K

government hours saved

50

departments facilitated

Advancing Public Services

In 2024, we worked in partnership with 15 government departments in 4 cities
and provided digital services to 200,000+ users across Pakistan.

Government Innovation Fellowship

Our Government Innovation Fellowship Program, now in its 8th cohort, continues to bridge the gap between citizens and government through technology, collaboration, and innovative thinking.

By embedding skilled technologists within government departments, the program co-creates digital solutions that address systemic challenges, improve public services, and empower communities.

The expansion of these programs underscores our dedication to leveraging technology for better governance. Youth of KP has the talent and these programs will help them compete at a global stage.

Projects

Fake News Detection
Information Department

AI-based system for analysis of social media to detect and mitigate the spread of fake news, focusing on content that may lead to social unrest or violence.

Pest and Disease Detection
Agriculture Department

Leveraging AI technology to enable field officers and farmers to quickly identify pests and diseases using a mobile app, improving response time and accuracy.

Government GPT
KP IT Board

Using LLMs to simplify access to government rules, regulations, and policies by providing accurate, timely, and user-friendly responses to queries.

Digital Water Billing
Irrigation Department

Digitizing existing manual water-billing process (Abyana) to ensure transparency, efficiency, and accuracy in managing water charges, fines, and payments.

Non-Profit Registration
Social Welfare Department

Streamlining the process of registering, verifiaction, and management of NGOs/NPOs through a digital registration process to enhance transparency.

Advertisement Management
Press Information Department

A comprehensive Management Information System (MIS) to streamline payment procedures, integrate digital payment systems, and digitize historical records.


Gilgit-Baltistan Government Fellowship

We helped draft the GB Technology Board Act, leveraging insights from national IT boards to drive digital transformation and strengthen IT governance in the region.

In collaboration with the Gilgit-Baltistan Performance Management & Reforms Unit (GB PMRU), the Fellowship focuses on developing digital solutions that streamline processes, improve public service delivery, and enhance civic engagement in the region.

Learn More

By integrating user-centered design into our approach, we ensure that the needs and realities of Gilgit-Baltistan's citizens are at the heart of every project. This methodology is not only about creating effective technologies but also about empowering local communities through innovation and collaboration. The Fellowship aims to inform, empower, and activate stakeholders across government and society, fostering a culture of transparency and progress in governance.

Projects

GoGB Mobile App
Administration

Collaborated on the GoGB app for real-time performance monitoring and improved accountability among district administrators.

HR Management
Administration

Supported the rollout of the HR Management System to streamline workforce operations and management.

Digital Skills Training
PMRU

Conducted training sessions to upskill government teams and enhance digital capacity.

Technical Assistance
PMRU

Provided technical assistance for biometric attendance and vehicle tracking systems.


Women Digital Internship

This six-month remote initiative is designed to empower women graduates from underserved areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with critical technology skills

The internship equips participants with expertise in AI, Web Development, UI/UX Design, and more, while fostering their professional growth. The interns collaborate with government departments to create impactful digital solutions that enhance public service delivery and citizen engagement.

Learn More Read their stories

The skills and experience I gained during the internship opened up so many new work opportunities. Working on real projects alongside industry professionals and government departments not only strengthened my portfolio but also connected me with potential clients.

Bisma Ashfaq, Alumni | Cohort II

The one-on-one mentorship during the KP Women Civic Digital Internship was invaluable. This internship helped me grow both professionally and broaden my technical knowledge in meaningful ways.

Pakeeza Bibi, Alumni | Cohort II
...
Don Norman Design Awards

The program's unique approach to empowering women through civic engagement earned special recognition at the Don Norman Design Awards.

Read More


Civic Innovator Program

This year we launched a new initiative — a collaboration between government, academia, and industry to address public challenges through technology-driven solutions.

The program aligns with the Higher Education Commission's requirements for final-year student projects, enabling students to work on real-world issues. By connecting academic efforts with practical applications, the program helps improve public service delivery and supports innovation in the public sector.

Learn More

How it works

Our approach connects academia, government, and industry, enabling students to address critical challenges such as waste management and water conservation with guidance from experienced mentors. Through over 250 problem statements provided by government departments, the program promotes collaboration and equips students with practical skills to develop scalable solutions that directly serve their communities.

The Civic Innovator Program has empowered us to create an innovative on-farm water management system combining weather forecasting and pest monitoring. It has inspired us to drive meaningful, real-world impact.

Projects

Vehicle Management
Halal Food Authority

Developing systematic records of vehicles for allocation within department and to track expenditure on the maintenance of vehicles.

Outbreak Information
Agriculture Extension

Mobile application for pest surveillance, disease tracking and identification, as well as risk assessment, alerts, and integrated management.

Supply Chain System
No Department

Implementing advanced supply chain management systems using blockchain for optimal, transparent and secure supply chain processes.

On-farm Water Management
Agriculture Department

Developing innovative sensor based ICT tools for gauging water losses through inlets and outlets, to optimize on-farm water requirements.

Peshawar Digital Zoo
Wildlife Department

Developing a mobile application using augmented reality, geolocation services and gamification to guide visitors across zoo attractions and activities

Optimized Waste Collection
Water and Sanitation

Developing a digital sensor-based IoT solution to track and enhance the efficiency and accountability of waste collection operations.


Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Services

We partnered with PIPS to advance parliamentary training through innovative civic tech solutions

Read More

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Using edX for delivering digital trainings

Deplying the official Open edX distribution

We worked with the management of PIPS to gather requirements for the deployment of an on-premises state-of-the-art digital learning management system. This system will be used to provide trainings to parliamentarians across Pakistan, reducing costs, and improving efficiency in the way public representatives can learn.

Visit Platform

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Strengthening Digital Security

A secure and resilient government safeguards public trust, protects sensitive citizen data, and strengthens the delivery of essential services.

We trained the Protocol Staff of Senate of Pakistan to enhance their digital security skills, a critical step in protecting sensitive government information and ensuring secure operations.

...

Assessment of Citizen Feedback Portals

In collaboration with the World Bank, we undertook an assessment of citizen feedback portals in Pakistan, including the Pakistan Citizen Portal, an initiative launched by the Prime Minister's Performance Delivery Unit (PMDU).

This platform connects citizens with the government, allowing them to file complaints, share feedback, and suggest improvements for public services. This study aligns with our mission to make governance more transparent, accountable, and user-friendly through digital tools.

Visit the Portal
...

Tech for Good

Working with public sector organizations
to design, prototype, and build better services

Pehchan - National Digital Identity

Accessing government services in Pakistan often requires navigating multiple platforms with unique credentials, complicating interactions with essential services. Pehchan addresses this challenge by introducing a secure, centralized digital identity system that simplifies access, and prioritizes security, transparency, and inclusivity.

With Pehchan, we are laying the groundwork for enhanced efficiency, transparency, and empowerment in public service delivery—putting citizens at the heart of Pakistan's digital journey.

Explore Pehchan

...
First step in digital transformation

Pehchan represents a significant step toward digital transformation in Pakistan's public sector. Pehchan offers a unified login experience, enabling citizens to seamlessly access a wide range of government services with a single set of credentials.

Simplifying access to government services

Built on open-source technologies like OAuth2 and OpenID Connect, the platform supports features such as Single Sign-On (SSO), multi-factor authentication, and user federation, ensuring a secure and user-friendly experience.

Designed for everyone

Inclusivity is at the core of Pehchan's design. The platform is intuitive and accessible, accommodating citizens regardless of their technical skills or resources. By reducing friction in accessing public services, Pehchan empowers individuals and fosters trust in government systems.


Empowering ordinary citizens by simplifying complex laws

Rooted in generations of constitutional history and the need for accessible legal knowledge, Numainda connects citizens with the laws that govern them, believing that an informed public is the foundation of a thriving democracy.

Interact with Numainda

...

Numainda was initially designed as a parliamentary monitoring system, tracking attendance, voting patterns, and legislative performance metrics to promote transparency and accountability. Through user research, a deeper need emerged: the accessibility of constitutional knowledge. This insight inspired a transformation—evolving Numainda into an AI-powered constitutional guide. Numainda is now an interactive platform that empowers citizens by simplifying complex constitutional information. Using natural, conversational language, it enables users to explore their rights and understand the constitution in an accessible, engaging way.


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Digital Design System

Improving government websites and mobile applications

Our volunteer designers are developing a design system for the Government of Pakistan, inspired by international models like those of the US, UK, and UAE. This system will provide guidelines for developers creating web and mobile apps for federal and provincial departments.

Read the blog


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HCAI App

World Health Organization

We expanded the real-time tools to track SSI, CAUTI, and CLABSI infections, enhancing patient safety in public healthcare facilities.

Read More
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Floodlight

Pakistan Floods 2024

This year, we redeployed FloodLight, an open-data disaster response platform, to support flood relief efforts in Balochistan.

Learn More
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Wings of Nature

Precision Medicine Lab

We launched Wings of Nature, a community initiative documenting local ecosystems of biodiversity.

Contribute Your Knowledge
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ElectoGPT

Elections 2024

ElectoGPT empowered citizens with real-time, accurate interpretations of electoral laws during the 2024 elections.

Experience It

Strengthening Civic Participation

Imagining and reimagining the world we want to create

Community Members and Volunteers

We are so grateful for everything you do.
Your invaluable contributions and unwavering support are at the heart of our mission.
Thank you for making a difference!

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Intikhabi Mela

Expressing democracy through art and technology

Our Intikhabi Mela initiative brought together local communities, experts, and creatives to promote electoral awareness ahead of Pakistan's February elections.

Read the story

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Watch Tower

Elevating Digital Governance with Vigilance

Tracking the performance of government websites, this platform improves accessibility, transparency, and user experience through actionable insights.

Visit the site

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Saaf Suthra Karachi

The Saaf Suthra Karachi campaign, a collaborative initiative between Code for Pakistan, Climate Action Center Karachi, and Wrap Up, addressed Karachi's pressing waste management issues by engaging residents in meaningful dialogue and collective action.

View the event

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Mapathon 2024

Explore, Create, Map marked Pakistan's first nationwide hybrid mapping event, engaging over 150 participants in documenting civic issues and exploring the power of open data. This initiative opened opportunities for citizens to map their communities, eager to address local challenges in their communities.

Read the blog Watch the highlights

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5G Innovation Hackathon

In collaboration with Jazz, NUST, and the National IT Board, we supported the 5G Innovation Hackathon, leveraging NUST's 5G Innovation Lab to advance solutions in healthcare, education, disaster management, climate change, agriculture, and industry. The event showcased 5G's potential, engaging students, researchers, and professionals to develop use cases and guide policy for practical adoption.

Read the blog

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The VPN Debate

The discussion sparked thought-provoking conversations, insightful questions, and meaningful exchanges, highlighting the challenges and opportunities for safeguarding digital rights and ensuring online freedom for all Pakistanis.

This Town Hall demonstrated our commitment to encouraging dialogue and collaboration around key issues shaping the future of our digital landscape.

More on this story

Voices of Impact

Stories from Code for Pakistan

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From Tourist to Change Maker

Exploring new horizons: Pakistan's first Voluntourism initiative

Read More
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Tackling Karachi's Garbage

Tracing the Trail: The Surprising Pathways of Our Everyday Trash

Read More
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The Art Behind Science

For good science, what you really need is infinitely curious minds

Read More
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From the foothills of Lower Dir, Osmia's Story

The story of Osmia and her life changing experience in the internship program

Read More
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Have You Interacted With Public Services Recently?

It's not you; bad doors are everywhere

Read More
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Leading a Civic Tech Revolution In Pakistan

It takes a village and a woman of substance to stir up some magic

Read More

Around the Globe

Imagining and Reimagining the World We Want to Create

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Don Norman Design Awards

Code for Pakistan received Three Awards at Don Norman Design Awards for

Read More
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The Impacts of Civic Tech Conference

Shaping the Future of Civic Technology at MySociety's TICTeC Conference

Read More
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San Deigo Design Week

Breaking Barriers of Mobility & Access to Include Women in Civic Tech

Read More
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23rd Conferência Internacional OIDP

Participatory Democracy in Action

Read More

Social Media

Code for Pakistan family is growing!

Thank you for being a part of it!

34,000+

strong community

400+

dedicated volunteers

7,000+

event attendees

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