THE image of Balochistan that dominates international headlines is often one of challenges. Last week in Colombo, a different story was told about Balochistan, which revolves around reform, innovation and quiet institutional transformation in the province. At the District Health Information Software (DHIS2) Asia Pacific Conference 2026, held in Colombo, the province of Balochistan stepped onto a global stage with a story worth hearing. Organized by HISP Asia and the University of Oslo’s HISP Centre, the conference brought together government representatives, health experts, researchers and development partners from 26 countries to discuss digital health systems, health data management and evidence-based policymaking.
Pakistan was represented by Balochistan Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar, who attended the opening ceremony as Chief Guest, which marks a recognition in itself of the province’s emerging leadership in digital health. What Balochistan presented was not a promise but performance. The province’s digital health reforms and its implementation of DHIS2 were shared before an international audience from 26 countries as a practical model of how technology can transform public service delivery in a resource-constrained environment.
The provincial minister highlighted how the provincial government is using digital technology, health data and evidence-based decision-making to improve healthcare delivery, strengthen monitoring and enforce institutional accountability. In a sector where opacity has long been a challenge, data is now becoming the driver of decisions. That effort has not gone unnoticed. The University of Oslo, the global home of DHIS2, recognized Balochistan’s efforts in digitalizing its health system and using technology for practical, locally driven reforms. This is significant. International recognition from a leading academic institution validates that reform in Balochistan is not cosmetic; it is structural and sustainable.
The Balochistan experience demonstrates how DHIS2 can strengthen reporting, performance monitoring, resource allocation and administrative accountability across the health sector. From district hospitals to remote basic health units, digital reporting is replacing paper-based guesswork. It allows the health department to track performance in real time, identify gaps in service delivery, allocate resources where they are most needed and hold facilities accountable for results. In a province with vast geography and dispersed populations, this digital backbone is transformative.
The Colombo conference also provided a vital platform for international exchange on digital health reforms, innovation, research and future priorities, strengthening Balochistan’s engagement with global health institutions. This engagement matters. It connects provincial officers with global best practices and positions Balochistan not as a recipient of models, but as a contributor. Crucially, this progress is built on partnership. The province’s collaboration with the University of Oslo, UNICEF Balochistan and HISP Pakistan is supporting stronger health-information systems and technical capacity. It is a model of how government ownership combined with technical partnership can deliver results.
At a time when public discourse on Balochistan often focuses on its problems, the DHIS2 recognition provides a positive and factual example of institutional reform and technology-led improvement in public service delivery. It presents the province through its development and reform initiatives, led by a government investing in systems that will outlast individuals and projects.
—Contributing columnist.
