
Azerbaijan is recognising Shaza Fatima Khawaja for strengthening Pakistan’s digital infrastructure and expanding cooperation in public service innovation.
Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, is scheduled to be honoured with a distinguished Azerbaijani state award in recognition of her role in deepening bilateral cooperation. The distinction will be conferred at the inaugural United Nations Governance Innovation Summit in Baku.
Titled the Medal of the Republic of Azerbaijan for Effective Cooperation with ASAN Service, the honor acknowledges her work in advancing contemporary governance practices and reinforcing institutional ties. It also highlights her contribution to Pakistan’s digital progress through international partnerships.
A central achievement linked to the recognition is the creation of Pakistan’s ASAN Khidmat Centre. Completed within 90 days, the initiative introduced a fresh model of accessible, technology-enabled public service delivery and strengthened cooperation between the two nations.
Khawaja’s contribution to Pakistan’s digital infrastructure has supported the country’s wider transformation goals. Her work has emphasized enhancing digital capacity, refining public-service systems, and encouraging the expansion of the digital economy.
The award also recognizes her role in launching and promoting the PAK initiative. Through these efforts, she has helped deepen collaboration between Pakistani and Azerbaijani institutions, especially in the field of public-service innovation.
Created under legislation approved on December 20, 2022, the Azerbaijani medal honors individuals who support projects connected with the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations, which operates under the country’s president.
The distinction is meant for individuals showing substantial cooperation in designing and implementing initiatives within the agency’s mandate. It also acknowledges Azerbaijani and international institutional representatives whose contributions meaningfully advance such partnerships.
