Under the auspices of the MoSt and the IT Commission, ten working groups were formed at a meeting on IT Policy chaired by the Minister, Science and Technology, Dr. Atta ur Rehman on April 1, 2000. The results of this initial policy discussion have resulted in the compilation of the National Information Technology Policy and Action Plan Recommendations. This draft document outlines the areas in which further development and resource allocation is required and defines the scope of evolving and implementing meaningful progress. It will also form the basis on which specific policy recommendations will be further elaborated, plans of action defined, and implementation arrangements formulated.

A two-pronged phased approach is recommended:

Identification and immediate implementation of a short-term action plan (STAP), lasting for at least one year, that can help remove some of the existing barriers to IT usage and facilitate growth.
Institute a well-defined process whereby a National IT Policy and Action Plan can be formulated, implementation arrangements designed and established, and administrative and management capacity building for supporting a more vibrant IT sector initiated. This process will help define a more stable and detailed longer-term strategy by following a systematic, phased process as defined later below.