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Pakistan received three honours at the CTO Digital Excellence Awards 2026 in London: one winner award, one runner-up recognition and one finalist recognition, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), citing a news release from Pakistan’s Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication.

Pakistan’s reported award results

The three recognised initiatives were placed in two award categories. They were not competing against one another in a single category.

Placement reported by APP Category Initiative What it concerns
Winner Digital Policy & Regulatory Excellence Establishment of National Incubation Centers A nationwide network of incubation platforms offering young innovators and entrepreneurs mentoring, technology support, business development services and links to investor networks.
Runner-up (silver) 21st Century Government / E-Government Initiatives Excellence Transforming Government Relief Delivery Through Digital Transformation Digital systems intended to improve the transparency, efficiency, targeting and accountability of government relief, while enabling faster and more inclusive access.
Finalist (bronze) Digital Policy & Regulatory Excellence Integrated Spectrum Governance Reform A coordinated, evidence-based approach to spectrum management intended to improve connectivity and service quality, support next-generation telecommunications and facilitate investment in the digital economy.

These placements and project descriptions come from APP’s October 2, 2026 report, which attributed the information to a ministry news release.

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What the award categories cover

The CTO’s official awards page describes Digital Policy & Regulatory Excellence as a category for policy and regulatory work. Its 21st Century Government / E-Government Initiatives category covers digital public services, including service delivery, transparency, citizen engagement, digital identity and electronic payments. The page listed August 10, 2026 as the submission deadline.

The category descriptions help explain the context for the projects, but they do not independently confirm the reported results. The material available from the CTO page does not provide a winners list or named judges.

Where the ceremony took place and Pakistan’s reported distinction

APP reported that the awards were held in London as part of the CTO’s 125th anniversary celebrations. It also said Pakistan was the only one of the organisation’s 56 member states to have finalist nominations in three entries and receive recognition for all three across two major categories. That distinction is APP’s account, not an independently confirmed overall ranking.

What Pakistan’s minister said

APP attributed two statements to Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication. On the three recognitions, she said: “Pakistan’s recognition across three initiatives at the CTO Digital Excellence Awards is a proud moment for the nation. It reflects the dedication and hard work of institutions across Pakistan in advancing the Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s vision of a Digital Pakistan that is inclusive, innovative and empowered by technology.”

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She also said the focus is on turning technology into opportunities for young people, more accessible public services, better connectivity and a more competitive digital economy, adding that the recognitions reaffirm the momentum of Pakistan’s digital transformation.

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What the honours establish—and what they do not

The reported awards recognise work in startup incubation, digital delivery of government relief and spectrum governance. The available reporting does not provide judging scores, independent measurements of project outcomes or impact statistics. Award recognition alone therefore does not establish how many people benefited, whether service delivery improved by a measured amount or what economic effects the initiatives produced.

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