Pakistan’s Tariq Malik Named Among 50 Global Leaders Shaping Digital Public Infrastructure

Former NADRA chairman joins global DPI 50 after earlier being recognised among 25 leading digital government and identity experts.

September 23, 2026 at 10:09 PM
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NEW YORK, USA: Global digital identity and digital public infrastructure expert Tariq Malik has been named among the DPI 50, a new global list recognising 50 leaders helping shape the development and responsible use of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) worldwide.

The recognition was announced in New York on Tuesday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meetings, highlighting Malik’s contribution to digital systems designed to be inclusive, trusted and capable of delivering public value.

The DPI 50 has been launched by Apolitical in collaboration with the World Economic Forum Global Future Council on GovTech and Digital Public Infrastructure.

The initiative brings international attention to leaders working on digital public infrastructure, including systems and technologies that can support the delivery of essential public services and strengthen digital inclusion.

Malik’s inclusion marks his second major global distinction in 2026.

Earlier this year, he was named to Okta’s Identity 25, a list recognising 25 leaders and innovators contributing to the future of digital identity.

Malik stepped down as chairman of NADRA in 2013 after completing his three-year tenure. He now serves as a technical adviser to the World Bank’s Identification for Development (ID4D) programme, where he has contributed to major digital identity and digital public infrastructure initiatives across Africa, South Asia and the Middle East.

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Earlier, he worked with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as chief technical adviser on digital identity and digital governance.

His international recognition includes being listed by Apolitical among the world’s 100 most influential figures in digital government, as well as being recognised by One World Identity (OWI) among its top 100 digital influencers.

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Malik also received the Outstanding Achievement Award at the 2009 ID World International Congress in Italy. In recognition of his contribution to strengthening governance through digital innovation, he was awarded the Sitara-i-Imtiaz.

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