The Gilgit-Baltistan Performance Management & Reforms Unit (GB PMRU) and Code for Pakistan (CfP) partnered to launch the Gilgit-Baltistan Government Innovation Fellowship in August 2023.

The GB PMRU is a specialised unit operating under the Chief Secretary's Office, established with the sole purpose of executing the province's reform agenda in alignment with the government's overarching vision. Through this collaboration, Code for Pakistan and GB PMRU aim to drive innovation, streamline processes, and enhance service delivery for the citizens of Gilgit-Baltistan.

The inaugural cohort of the GB Fellowship consists of four Fellows who will be working on different GovTech and Civic Tech projects. The core focus of this program is to assist the GB PMRU in achieving its e-governance, monitoring, and reform objectives, while promoting digital governance and civic engagement in the province. The program focuses on developing digital solutions for various public sector domains.

The program takes inspiration from the long-running Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government Innovation Fellowship Program, operational in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province since 2014. Through the implementation of automation and digitization, the program in KP has led to enhanced efficiency in civic services for over a million users, enabling 30+ departments through digital transformation. Building on this success, the Gilgit-Baltistan Government Innovation Fellowship Program is poised to become a catalyst for transformative change in the region.