IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

The Government has called on schools across the country to prioritize Information and Communication Technology (ICT) training for students in order to keep pace with the rapidly evolving digital landscape and the growing role of technology in modern society.

The Government said that, given the rapid pace of technological advancement, schools should invest in modern and reliable infrastructure that enables students to acquire practical ICT skills. It commended Bunazi Green Acres School, located in Bunazi Township, Kassambya Ward, Missenyi District, Kagera Region, for setting a strong example in ICT education.

• Gabon plans a government portal that will progressively centralize public services online, with at least 10 services targeted for integration by December 2026.
• A Gabonese delegation spent nearly two weeks in Rwanda studying e-government, digital identity, cybersecurity and public-service digitization.
• Libreville is drawing on Rwanda’s Irembo platform, which now hosts more than 100 services from more than 20 institutions.

Gabon wants to accelerate the digital transformation of its administration by drawing on Rwanda’s experience. A delegation from the Ministry of Interior, Security and Decentralization recently spent nearly two weeks in Kigali studying e-government, digital identity, cybersecurity and the digitization of public services.

The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs has launched the "Meshka" digital services application as a unified online platform that enables the public to access a wide diversity of religious and guidance services through a modern and user-friendly experience.

In a statement Sunday, the Ministry highlighted that the move grows out of its efforts to foster digital transformation and improve the service system provided to beneficiaries, in alignment with the Ministry's strategic plan, in addition to supporting the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030 in building a more powerful and creative government sector capable of leveraging digital solutions for the community.

The northern province is investing in 5G, AI and real-time data systems as it pushes to become a centrally governed municipality and crack the world's top 50 smart cities by 2030.

Bắc Ninh, a northern province on the outskirts of Hà Nội, has set a goal of ranking among the world's top 50 smart cities by 2030, an ambition officials say is central to its broader push to become a centrally governed municipality.

• Building permits can now be issued in less than 48 hours, while millions of engineering records have been digitized and more than 85% of direct municipal services are available through Sahel.

Kuwait Municipality is accelerating its transition to a fully digital operating model, with electronic building permits, online licensing, smart inspections and digital archiving becoming increasingly integrated into its daily operations.

Nigeria’s on digital attempt to move government information and public services online is not exactly a new romance with technology. The country has been pursuing e-government for years, with earlier policies and programmes already envisioning one-stop online government services, paperless administration and digital interaction between citizens and public institutions. What is changing now is the scale and intensity of the push, as the Federal Government attempts to turn the long-running digital ambition into something Nigerians can actually use without first printing three copies, attaching passport photographs and locating an office with a missing signboard.

President William Ruto explained that the smart city, which will have 2,000 affordable housing units and other amenities, will create jobs and business opportunities for the residents, and attract investors to the border town.

The Government will invest Ksh4 billion in a new smart city in Malaba, Busia County, President William Ruto has announced.

The President explained that the smart city, which will have 2,000 affordable housing units and other amenities, will create jobs and business opportunities for the residents, and attract investors to the border town.

The Federal Government has said it is exploring the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in public service delivery as part of efforts to deepen digital transformation across ministries, departments and agencies.

The Director-General, Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) Dr Dasuki Arabi, disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday at the Stakeholders Engagement and Inauguration of the Inter-Ministerial Task Team for the seventh edition of the ranking of websites of Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

The Office of the Secretary to the Adamawa State Government has taken another significant step towards modernising its administrative operations with a one-day training workshop on the E-Document Management System (EDMS).

The training, held on Friday, August 28, 2026, at Alheri Royal Guest House in Yola, brought together selected staff of the SSG’s Office for practical sessions aimed at strengthening digital records management and accelerating the transition from traditional paper-based processes to electronic administration.

The country is introducing artificial intelligence, 5G networks, online payments and virtual tours. Laws on the internet and e-government have been adopted.

Turkmenistan is implementing the “Concept for the Development of the Digital Economy for 2026–2028,” aimed at the innovative formation of the economy and strengthening its competitiveness. The country has adopted the laws “On Legal Regulation of Internet Development,” “On E-Government,” “On Electronic Documents,” and other regulatory acts. In 2026, declared the year of “Independent Neutral Turkmenistan – Homeland of Determined Winged Steeds,” work is underway on the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence. This information is reported by Arzuw.news, citing the publication “Neutral Turkmenistan.”

Facilitated by the Embassy of Uzbekistan, Pakistani company “Habib Rafiq Engineering (Pvt.) Ltd.” (HRL) has commenced work on a “smart city” project in Khiva, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

During the visit, HRL delegation toured the Khorezm region and signed a memorandum of understanding with the regional Khokimiyat (administration) to implement the investment project.

Project entails the construction of a new “smart city” as part of the expansion of ancient Khiva.

The Ministry of Land and Legal Affairs (MLLA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to accelerate the digital transformation of Trinidad and Tobago’s land-related systems and services.

In a news release, the Ministry confirmed the MoU is connected to a multi-year project, entitled “Digital Transformation of Land-Related Services.”

Minister of Land and Legal Affairs, Saddam Hosein, said, “Digital transformation must be about people. It must make it easier for citizens and businesses to access Government services, eliminate administrative bottlenecks, and build a more responsive, transparent public sector.”

Local governments face a familiar challenge of needing to balance tight budgets and rate pressures, with rising community expectations for reliable infrastructure and rapid service delivery. In response, forward-thinking councils are turning to smart city technologies to optimise public assets, streamline maintenance, and improve resource allocation.

At its core, a "smart city" is not about futuristic gimmicks or technology for its own sake. A smart city integrates connected digital technologies, such as sensors and data networks into physical public infrastructure to be more efficient, sustainable and liveable. By equipping assets like drainage networks, bins, vehicles, buildings, and public lighting with Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, councils can gather granular, real-time spatial data. This informs capital works planning, asset life-cycle management, predictive maintenance schedules, and resource allocation, which in turn helps infrastructure work smarter for both residents and businesses.

Alongside preventive capabilities, agencies and organisations must proactively build capacity for detection, response, and recovery to ensure when an incident occurs, essential operations can be maintained and quickly restored to normalcy.

Digital transformation in the public sector must focus on building sustainable infrastructure and ensuring data security for national growth, experts said at a seminar on Monday.

Speaking at the seminar on digital transformation in the public sector, Vũ Duy Hiền, Deputy Secretary General of the Vietnam National Cybersecurity Association, said that the nation's digital transformation is entering a new phase of development.

RS 1,400 crore worth of works underway; focus on water, roads and drainage

Minister for Roads & Buildings and Cinematography Komatireddy Venkat Reddy has reiterated his commitment to transforming Nalgonda into a super smart city, announcing a series of major infrastructure projects aimed at driving all-round development across the constituency.

The Minister was speaking after inaugurating additional rooms and a conference hall constructed at a cost of Rs2 crore at the Nalgonda Club here on Sunday.

Among the nine core principles identified by the smart city project, the most notable is the order of priority: placing citizens and businesses at the center; using data as the foundation; ensuring interconnection, integration, and shared usage; guaranteeing information security and privacy.

Ho Chi Minh City is shifting its smart city development focus from isolated technological applications to data-driven governance. In this new approach, urban planning is identified as the "spatial framework" to connect data across sectors, support forecasting, and enhance the quality of decision-making.

Synopsis

• The Telangana government is targeting completion of the 3,245-acre Zahirabad Industrial Smart City by March 2028, with the project expected to attract around INR 15,000 crore in investment and generate nearly two lakh direct and indirect jobs. Telangana IT and Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu announced the timeline during a National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust meeting. The state holds a 51% stake through its land contribution, while the Centre is supporting infrastructure development. Water-supply tendering has been completed and other essential infrastructure is being developed under the Engineering, Procurement and Construction model.

Juan Carlos Lopez, CTO and Chief of the Value Management Office at Cayala, explains how agile transformation, digital infrastructure and community-led services are supporting the expansion of one of Central America’s largest private cities.

Juan Carlos Lopez is CTO and Chief of the Value Management Office at Cayala, one of the largest private cities in Central America. Located in Zone 16 of Guatemala City, Cayala was conceived as a “city within a city” where everything is within walking distance. Its master plan is based on the 15-minute city concept, combining homes, offices, shops, restaurants, hotels and leisure facilities in a walkable environment, with commercial space on the lower floors, apartments and offices above, and parking located underground.

As global investors increasingly evaluate cities through measurable resilience, governance and sustainability, Vinhomes is taking an uncommon approach, embedding internationally recognized smart-city standards into large-scale developments from day one.

Through landmark partnerships with global certification bodies, the company is seeking to demonstrate that future cities can be designed not only to be greener and smarter, but also to perform against internationally benchmarked metrics.

At the Digital Transformation Indonesia Conference and Expo (DTI-CX) 2026, government and industry leaders highlighted the importance of data integration in building more connected and efficient cities.

A combination of factors, including population growth, increased mobility, and the expansion of the digital economy are making large cities increasingly complex to manage.

In Indonesian cities like Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi (Jabodetabek) metropolitan area, a major centre of growth, the situation was even more complex as financial, commercial, industrial and trading activities were concentrated in the same geographic area.

Synopsis:

• The Government has completed four of its biggest industrial smart city projects under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP). This article covers projects, their features and few smart cities that are likely to be completed before 2027.

The Government has completed four industrial smart city projects, under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP) Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR) in Gujarat, Shendra-Bidkin Industrial Area (SBIA) in Maharashtra, Integrated Industrial Township (IIT) in Greater Noida and Vikram Udyogpuri in Madhya Pradesh, in a major milestone.

Jakarta Communication, Informatics and Statistics (Kominfotik) Agency Head Marulina Dewi outlined three keys to smart city development in Jakarta: lead, transform, and impact.

Marulina said organizational readiness, human resource capacity, governance, and data integration are essential to ensuring technology is implemented in a coordinated way across government agencies (OPDs).

"The most important thing is ensuring that organizations, institutions, and government agencies are ready to make technology truly impactful and part of public services," Marulina said at the JAKI & Fellowship Cities Forum (JFCF) 2026 at Jakarta City Hall on Thursday (8/20).

Accelerating the SDGs

Jamaica has entered the final year of implementation of the Government of Jamaica and United Nations SDG Joint Programme on Digital Transformation for Education, a flagship initiative supported through the Joint SDG Fund and the contributions of development partners, including the European Union and its member states. This is a pivotal moment for Jamaica's efforts to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Since its launch, the Programme has helped pilot innovative solutions, strengthen collaboration and lay the foundation for long-term transformation across the education sector.

In Short

• Speaking on the occasion, Sridhar Babu announced that development works for the Zaheerabad Smart City would be completed by March 2028 and assured that the projects, being executed under the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) model, would be finished within the stipulated timeframe.

IT and Industries Minister for Telangana state Duddilla Sridhar Babu stated that the Zaheerabad Industrial Smart City would provide a fresh boost to Telangana's industrial sector and generate direct and indirect employment opportunities for 200,000 people once fully operational. He mentioned that the target is to attract investments worth approximately ₹15,000 crore for the smart city, which is being developed across 3,245 acres.

• Justice and Health ministries to lead first phase of plan to convert handwritten records into digital files
• First phase is expected to include medical prescriptions, patient reports, case files, investigations and other handwritten records used by departments within the two ministries

The government is moving to accelerate digital transformation across ministries and government institutions by converting paper records and handwritten documents into digital files that can be stored, accessed and shared electronically.

Experts say success will depend on strong data, governance, trust and clear boundaries for human oversight

Saudi Arabia’s next phase of digital transformation could see artificial intelligence move beyond supporting individual government services to reshaping how public services are designed around citizens’ lives.

The Kingdom has already built strong digital foundations through years of investment in online services, cloud infrastructure and data capabilities under Vision 2030. In the 2024 UN E-Government Development Index, Saudi Arabia ranked sixth globally, placing it among the world’s leading digital governments.

The talks focused on digital infrastructure, broadband connectivity, smart cities and the wider digital economy, with Kenya seeking partnerships that can bring investment, innovation and technical expertise into the sector.

Kenya is exploring deeper cooperation with China on digital transformation following discussions between the government and Guodong Network Communication Group.

The Digital System being implemented in the Ethiopian capital is modernizing the city and streamlining public Service-delivery.

Modern digital systems that have benefited residents of Addis Ababa and are accelerating the city’s journey toward becoming a smart city are being widely implemented.

Significant attention is being given to large-scale infrastructure development and human-resource development in order to sustainably address the limitations in service delivery that have long been a concern for the city’s residents.

The Odisha government will launch the OSWAS 3.0 project to further strengthen good governance through digital transformation.

The state Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, today approved the tender for the project, said Chief Secretary Anu Garg.

The government will implement the OSWAS 3.0 project with an allocation of Rs 122.60 crore, she added.

DC reviews progress of ongoing works; sets August 20 deadline for minor pending works

Deputy Commissioner (DC)-cum- Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Karnal Smart City Ltd. (KSCL), Dr Anand Kumar Sharma on Wednesday reviewed the progress of various ongoing Smart City projects and directed officials and construction agencies to complete several key projects within fixed deadlines.

While reviewing various projects being carried out under the KSCL at its office, Dr Sharma discussed the progress of these projects and directed officials to complete the Phase-I and Phase-II works of redevelopment of Karna Stadium by December.

The introduction of the digital map-based traffic infrastructure management system into operation creates a foundation for Hanoi City to shift from manual, distributed management methods to data-based management, towards building a smart city.

From manual management to "digital profiles" for infrastructure

Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo identifies science, technology, innovation and digital transformation as key development drivers. To concretize this orientation, Hanoi City has put the Traffic Infrastructure Management System on a digital map into operation.

The Director of the Digital Technology Directorate at the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Dr. Samuel Antwi-Gyekyi, has urged stronger collaboration to accelerate Ghana’s digital transformation agenda.

“Digital transformation cannot be driven by government alone,” Dr. Antwi-Gyekyi said, calling for partnerships between the public sector, industry, academia, entrepreneurs and development partners to translate policy into jobs, innovation and economic growth.

Plans include smart hubs, a vertiport network, affordable housing, and mixed-use development to revitalize the historic community.

The Green District Smart City Live Local Master Plan has been filed with the City of Orlando, marking the first step in a roughly $2 billion revitalization effort for the historic Parramore community in Orlando. This full master plan is designed as a destination that brings together housing, tourism, transportation, jobs, education, culture, technology, public safety and economic mobility in one place, positioning downtown Orlando as a leader in smart city innovation.

A visit to Konza Technopolis offers a glimpse into what former President Mwai Kibaki envisioned when his administration conceived one of Kenya’s most ambitious development projects.

After years in which critics questioned whether Konza would ever live up to its promise, activity at the technology city appears to be gathering momentum, with universities, healthcare facilities, digital infrastructure, roads, water systems, residential developments and environmental projects taking shape.

What is smart about intelligent transport if citizens cannot afford mobility? What is sustainable about green buildings if ordinary families cannot afford them?

A city can have intelligent traffic lights, solar-powered buildings, digital services and sensors on every corner and still fail its people. That is the paradox Africa must confront as we race toward smart cities, clean energy and digital transformation.

The World Council on City Data officially awarded Vinhomes Green Paradise in Can Gio the interim ISO 37122 Smart City Certification, recognising the development against the global smart city data standard.

The World Council on City Data (WCCD) has officially awarded Vinhomes Green Paradise - Can Gio the InterimCustom ISO 37122Smart CityCertification. This milestone marks another significant step in Vinhomes Green Paradise's journey toward becoming the first mega urban development in Vietnam to achieve an internationally recognized smart city certification, setting new benchmarks for sustainable urban development on a global scale.

Sunderland’s smart city programme is delivering measurable economic, social and public-service benefits, with new research showing how long-term connectivity investment, civic leadership and trusted partnerships are turning digital ambition into real impact.

Sunderland has always had a clear north star when it comes to its smart city programme: no-one and no-where left behind. With that mindset underpinning the council’s work, Sunderland’s smart city programme is now producing measurable economic, social and public-service benefits. Full-fibre coverage has risen from 0.2 per cent in 2019 to 83 per cent, almost 200,000 residents have been supported through Digital Health Hubs, and better use of shared data has unlocked approximately £1.1m for schools and families. These are among the key findings of a new impact report that gives greater substance to The Times naming Sunderland the UK’s smartest city in 2024.

Amid persistent criticism over delays and cost escalations in Smart City projects in Jammu and Srinagar, the Centre today informed Parliament that 98 per cent of the projects taken up under the Smart Cities Mission in Jammu and Kashmir have been completed, while ruling out any inquiry into allegations of financial irregularities or project mismanagement.

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Replying to an Unstarred Question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu said that 288 projects worth Rs 6,603 crore were sanctioned under the Smart Cities Mission for Jammu and Srinagar. Of these, 282 projects worth rs 6,472 crore have been completed as of March 31, 2026, leaving only six projects under implementation.

Indore, Guwahati, Chandigarh, Varanasi, Surat emerge as top performers, while Faridabad, Greater Warangal, Karnal, Mangaluru and Ludhiana continue to lag

Nearly 11 years after the launch of the Smart Cities Mission (SCM), the Centre’s flagship urban renewal programme has reached the final stage of implementation, with 97 per cent of all sanctioned projects completed and almost the entire Central allocation claimed and utilised by states and Union Territories (UTs). While the overall numbers suggest the Mission has largely delivered on its objectives, city-wise data reveal significant differences in performance.

India's digital transformation focuses on improving citizen services beyond basic digitization. AI, cloud, and data intelligence are key to building intelligent public infrastructure. Data quality and breaking departmental silos are critical for successful AI adoption. Citizen-centric platforms simplify interactions and ensure inclusivity for all users. Effective execution and public-private collaboration drive tangible improvements in governance.

India’s digital transformation has moved past the question of whether government services should be digital. That argument is over. The harder question, the one I spend my working life inside, is why so many digitised services still feel broken to the citizen using them, and what it actually takes to fix that. Digital India laid the foundation. The next frontier is intelligent, connected, citizen-centric digital public infrastructure powered by artificial intelligence, cloud, data intelligence and automation. But I want to be direct about something up front: the constraint on AI in Indian governance is almost never the model. It is the data underneath it and the departmental walls around it.

India is witnessing a new era of urban development, and Dholera Greenfield Smart City is leading this transformation. Located in Gujarat, Dholera is India’s first and largest Greenfield Smart City being developed under the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC). With world-class infrastructure, government-backed planning, excellent connectivity, and significant industrial investments, Dholera has become one of the most promising real estate investment destinations in the country.

Whether you’re a first-time investor, an experienced real estate buyer, or someone looking for long-term wealth creation, Dholera offers tremendous opportunities for residential and commercial property investments.

The Son La Provincial People's Committee has built a shared digital data warehouse to promote digital transformation.

Son La Provincial People's Committee has just issued a List of master data, original data, creating a foundation for building a unified data system, serving digital transformation and improving the efficiency of state management.

The goal of building data is to standardize, connect and share data between agencies, limiting duplication in information collection and management.

The Last Word: Urban intelligence gives us the capacity to redesign daily life before a changing, warming climate makes cities unliveable.

On July 23, weather stations across Alicante province, where I had a chance to spend a couple of months this spring, recorded dew points close to 30°C. The town of Crevillent reached 29.8°C and Callosa d’en Sarrià, 29.6°C. Singapore’s July average typically sits around 24–25°C. For a Mediterranean region, the comparison is startling.

As artificial intelligence (AI) moves rapidly from the digital realm into everyday life, Malaysian property developers are beginning to rethink how homes should be designed for a future where AI and robotics become integral to daily living.

Leading that shift is AI Living @ i-City, which is positioning itself at the forefront of a new generation of AI-ready residential developments designed to accommodate evolving intelligent technologies, as demand grows for smarter, more connected living environments.

AIS and Bangkok Land are rolling out 5G-Advanced, WiFi 7, cloud and AI across 4,000 rai of Muang Thong Thani in Nonthaburi.

Announced under the “Muang Thong NEXT: The Smart & Connected City” concept, the partnership will combine mobile and fixed networks with cloud, data and artificial intelligence systems.

Muang Thong Thani has evolved over more than four decades into a centre for residential communities, businesses, education, retail, entertainment and international events. AIS expects the new infrastructure to be installed within 12 months.

A smart city will leverage digital technologies to enhance governance, public administration, and service delivery, making them faster, more convenient, more transparent, and more secure for residents.

On July 30, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Office announced that Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong had signed Decision No. 4714/QD-UBND approving the city's Smart City Development Plan for the 2026-2030 period, with a vision to 2045.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif orders faster rollout of Pakistan’s National Digital Vision, aiming for one digital identity to access services like healthcare, banking and transfers, starting with priority sectors.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to accelerate the implementation of Pakistan's national digital transformation agenda, outlining a vision under which citizens will eventually be able to access a broad range of government and public services through a single digital identity.

Almaty has secured 38th place in the inaugural Intelligent Cities Index 2026 compiled by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Qazinform News Agency reports. Kazakhstan’s largest city received an overall score of 62 out of 100, placing ahead of Jakarta, Rome, Milan, Melbourne, Delhi and São Paulo. The index assesses how effectively cities use digital technologies and artificial intelligence to improve public services, residents’ quality of life and economic opportunities.

Traffic congestion, endless construction, flooded streets and power outages. For city leaders and residents alike, these disruptions are simply part of daily urban life. But an emerging tool, known as the urban digital twin, could help cities anticipate problems before they occur by allowing planners to simulate responses, stress-test infrastructure, and evaluate decisions before implementing them in the real world.

What Is an Urban Digital Twin?

An urban digital twin is a dynamic, data-driven virtual model of a real city. It uses AI analytics and combines 3D modeling with real-time data and information from sources such as IoT sensors, traffic cameras, satellite feeds, infrastructure databases, utility networks, and environmental data including weather systems and heat maps to create a continuously updated digital representation of the urban environment that mirrors infrastructure, movement and systems in real time. In other words, it is a living digital replica of a city.

Doha has been recognised as one of the world’s intelligent cities in Boston Consulting Group’s inaugural Intelligent Cities Index 2026, placing it in the Emerging Maturity category among 61 major urban centres across 39 countries.

The index, released recently, evaluates how cities deploy artificial intelligence and digital technologies to improve resident outcomes, economic opportunities and urban services. It assesses performance across five domains: outcomes, strategy, adoption, ways of working and enablers. Cities are grouped into leading, accelerating, emerging or developing levels of maturity.

Kazakhstan's Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with DEC40 (Global Digital Economy Cities Alliance), the ministry said.

The agreement is expected to strengthen Kazakhstan's integration into the global Smart City ecosystem and expand cooperation with leading international technology companies.

DEC40 is an international organization that brings together cities, technology companies, research institutions and global partners to promote advanced digital solutions, exchange best practices and implement joint Smart City initiatives.

Smart cities are urban areas that use connected technology, AI, and real-time data to improve city services, infrastructure, and the quality of life.

They bring together Internet of Things (IoT) devices, data analytics for the government, digital platforms, and other types of technology to modernize how cities operate, from transportation to emergency response.

This guide covers what a smart city is, its core characteristics, and how the right technology platform enables smart city data management.

The expansion of connected technologies in Gainesville includes automated license plate readers (Flock Safety Inc), smart benches, Gun Shot Detectors, Big Belly refuse bins, and AMI utility meters, prompting discussion about transparency and privacy as the “Smart City” infrastructure grows.

• Gainesville’s network of connected public technologies continues to expand – and you’re likely unaware.
• This release highlights concerns related to privacy, transparency, and lack of comprehensive data governance.
• Documented cases from around the country illustrate misuse, security vulnerabilities, and wrongful investigations involving connected surveillance technologies.
• Residents are encouraged to engage with local officials and participate in public discussions.

Leading municipalities are increasingly replacing fragmented service channels with a single point of engagement for citizens.

Through integrated citizen portals, residents can access municipal accounts, view statements, make payments, submit service requests, track applications, receive notifications and interact with the municipality from a single platform.

The value extends beyond convenience. When citizens can resolve issues digitally without visiting municipal offices, municipalities benefit from reduced operational costs, improved service accessibility and higher levels of citizen satisfaction.

The smart city may set a new benchmark for disciplined planning and sustainable urban development.

Urban civilisation is measured less by imposing buildings than by the quality of life a city sustains. Cities prosper when growth, technology and investment are balanced with sound planning, environmental responsibility and social inclusion. New Enugu Smart City therefore deserves national attention as an opportunity to establish a better model of urban development in Nigeria.

Over the past five decades, Nigeria has produced very few genuinely planned cities. Abuja remains the country’s foremost example of a city conceived and built largely from the ground up, primarily to decongest Lagos and provide a purpose-built Federal Capital. Its original master plan was one of Africa’s most ambitious urban planning exercises, carefully integrating residential, commercial, institutional and recreational districts with supporting infrastructure.

Government has directed local authorities to ensure that the Smart Cities agenda remains firmly focused on improving the lives of citizens, warning that technology should never become an end in itself but a tool for solving everyday challenges faced by communities.

Speaking during a recent engagement in Victoria Falls, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Public Works Albert Mavunga said the success of smart initiatives would be measured by their impact on ordinary people, particularly those in underserved communities, rather than the sophistication of the technology deployed.

Key Takeaway

• Senior officials from across India convened in Maharashtra to explore the Shendra-Bidkin Industrial Area as a model for smart city development.
• The two-day event, organized by NICDC and MITL, aimed to share successful practices for replicating industrial corridor projects nationwide.
• AURIC is highlighted as a leading example of a greenfield industrial smart city under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme.
• NICDC's CEO emphasized the importance of modern infrastructure and digital governance in creating competitive manufacturing hubs.

The first day included presentations on AURIC's development strategy, demonstrations of digital planning and monitoring systems, and site visits to operational industries and major infrastructure facilities.

A digital twin is a live, virtual copy of a real city, fed by sensor data. Smart cities use it to test changes in simulation before trying them in real life. Think new traffic patterns, flood defenses or emergency plans.

Picture a city engineer watching tomorrow’s rush hour before a single car hits the road. They reroute traffic around a jam that hasn’t happened yet, or watch a storm push water across streets that are, for now, perfectly dry. That isn’t science fiction. It’s the everyday promise of a fast-growing branch of smart city technology called the digital twin.

Summary

• Pakistan has taken a major step towards becoming a regional digital technology hub with the inauguration of Sky47 Karakoram-01, the country’s largest AI-ready data centre and cloud platform, at Capital Smart City near Islamabad.
• Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described Sky47 as a landmark project that would help shape Pakistan’s future and strengthen the country’s digital capabilities.
• Supporters of the initiative describe it as a major breakthrough achieved under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, with the support of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and an important step towards positioning Pakistan as a regional hub for artificial intelligence, cloud computing and next-generation digital technologies.

Pakistan has taken a major step towards becoming a regional digital technology hub with the inauguration of Sky47 Karakoram-01, the country’s largest AI-ready data centre and cloud platform, at Capital Smart City near Islamabad.

The Government of India on Thursday said that 157 out of 161 projects (98 per cent) under the Srinagar Smart City Mission have been completed as of March 31, 2026, with works worth Rs 3,530 crore executed out of the total sanctioned cost of Rs 3,633 crore.

Replying to an unstarred question by MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu, as reported by KNO, said the Smart City Proposals (SCPs) are planned at the local level after consultations with citizens and other stakeholders and are approved by the State High Powered Steering Committee (HPSC).

The decision by the Lagos State Government to abolish manual processing of building approvals and fully transition to the Electronic Physical Planning Process System (EPPPS) is a bold and commendable reform. But it should be matched with adequate political will, the provision of digital infrastructure, and the proper reorientation of officials and other stakeholders to prevent frustration and failure.

At a time when Lagos continues to expand rapidly as Africa’s commercial nerve centre, modernising the state’s planning approval process is both necessary and inevitable. A state aspiring to become a globally competitive smart city cannot continue to rely on slow, paper-driven bureaucratic procedures that encourage delays, corruption, inefficiency, and poor record-keeping. The promise of transparency, accountability, traceability and faster service delivery is attractive to investors, developers, professionals and ordinary citizens alike.

The Centre on Thursday informed the Lok Sabha that 157 of the 161 projects sanctioned under the Srinagar Smart City Mission have been completed at a cost of Rs 3,530 crore, accounting for 98 per cent of the total projects approved for the city.

Replying to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 882 raised by MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu said that, as reported by Srinagar Smart City Limited, the city had undertaken 161 projects worth Rs 3,633 crore across multiple sectors, including Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), smart mobility, smart governance, smart energy and the environment. Of these, 157 projects had been completed as of March 31, 2026.

Malaysia’s government cloud backbone is becoming an increasingly important layer of digital infrastructure supporting smart-city initiatives, planning systems and public service delivery — including areas linked to land administration, housing and construction approvals.

This comes as the Cloud Framework Agreement (CFA 1.0) involving AwanBiru Technology Bhd (Awantec), Google Cloud Malaysia Sdn Bhd and Awantec Systems Sdn Bhd has been extended to June 2027, ensuring continuity of cloud infrastructure and services while the successor Cloud Framework Agreement 2.0 (CFA 2.0) is being prepared.

Boldyn Networks and Sunderland City Council’s long term partnership aims to create the UK’s smartest city, where no one is left behind, says Boldyn’s Danny Kelly

Long-term relationships deliver results. Our seven-year partnership with Sunderland City Council is benefiting citizens, start-ups, patients and even the venerable football club of the city in the North East.

...the future of African cities: Lessons from Europe

Every rainy season, Accra is reminded of a painful reality. Roads become rivers, businesses shut down, homes are inundated, and families are displaced.

The devastating floods that have repeatedly affected the city are no longer isolated natural disasters—they are symptoms of deeper urban planning challenges.

Around the world, city populations keep growing and with that so do pressures on housing, transportation, urban infrastructure and the natural environment. In the Canadian province of New Brunswick, the cities of Moncton and Dieppe are all too familiar with these challenges as years of rapid growth test the limits of what existing housing, roads and green space can absorb.

“Moncton is one of the fastest growing municipalities in the country and it’s putting real pressure on where and how we accommodate people,” said Josh Davies, manager of long-range policy planning at the City of Moncton. “Affordable housing is a major challenge, especially as construction and labor costs continue to rise.”

At a glance

• Who: City Walk Abuja; Link Developments; Benoy; Broadgate Developments Group.
• What: Plans have been unveiled for City Walk Abuja, a new mixed-use smart city development in the Nigerian capital of Abuja.
• Why: To establish a new global gateway for investment, enterprise, culture, and innovation in Africa.
• Where: City Walk Abuja will link the central business district with Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

City Walk Abuja will combine landscaped public spaces, biodiversity corridors and sustainable water systems with smart infrastructure and walkable neighbourhoods.

Plans have been unveiled for a new mixed-use smart city development in the Nigerian capital of Abuja, linking the central business district with Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

Joining forces with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Central Visayas, the local government of Mandaue unveiled its plans at the opening of the Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (RSTW) last July 13 toward becoming one of the first smart and sustainable cities in the region.

During its launch, Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Jovito Ouano introduced the “Smart Mandaue” Road map that targets to provide better public service and governance to the city through science, technology, and innovation.

Tripura CM Manik Saha says Agartala Smart City works and road repairs will be completed before Durga Puja despite monsoon delays.

Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha has assured that the ongoing Smart City projects in Agartala will be completed before Durga Puja and that all roads in the city, which are currently in a dilapidated condition, will be repaired or reconstructed by then. He gave the assurance after personally visiting most of the ongoing projects and reviewing their progress.

Children must actively embrace Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) to play a pivotal role in shaping the future landscape of the city.

Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng said technology should ultimately serve to improve urban quality of life—specifically by easing traffic congestion, protecting the environment, conserving energy, and bolstering public safety.

New Zealand has updated its Identification Standards to strengthen identity assurance processes used across public and private sector services. The revised standards, published on 20 July 2026, aim to improve how organisations verify identities, manage fraud risks and support digital transactions. According to the Department of Internal Affairs announcement, the changes follow a formal review process and feedback from agencies and technical experts.

The standards support identification management processes used when people access online services, open financial accounts or share personal information. They are also linked to New Zealand’s broader digital governance efforts, including recent measures to improve oversight of major public technology initiatives, as outlined in government technology project oversight reforms.

Zambia has launched the GovLink Private 4G network to provide secure, high-speed Internet connectivity for public institutions, creating a government-owned digital backbone to support Digital Transformation across healthcare, education and other public services.

Zambia has taken another step towards modernising public services with the launch of GovLink Private 4G, a government-owned connectivity network designed to provide secure, high-speed Internet access to health facilities, schools and other public institutions nationwide.

Govt nods for continuation, repurposing of JSCL and SSCL works

Closed in March last year 2025, the Smart City Mission for both Jammu and Srinagar Cities will now continue for repurposing of Jammu Smart City Limited (JSCL) and Srinagar Smart City Limited (SSCL).

The order in this regard was issued by the Department of Housing and Urban Development Department.

While digital transformation initiatives have made strides in enhancing public-facing services, operational issues remain problematic. Dr Graham Turnbull from Reinvigoration explains

The UK public sector has not been short of ambition when it comes to transformation. Over the past decade, local authorities, NHS trusts, housing associations, and central government departments have invested substantially in digital platforms, service redesign, shared services, and efficiency programmes. But outcomes have not kept pace with the effort.

Mayor Hisham Ismail on Tuesday outlined a development roadmap focused on infrastructure, public services, economic growth and good governance as the city advances its vision of becoming a Smart City and a Highly Urbanized City (HUC).

In his first State of the City Address (SOCA), Ismail highlighted the city government's accomplishments from July 2025 to June 2026 and outlined priority programs to improve the delivery of public services, sustain economic growth, and enhance the quality of life for Legazpeños.