Govt announces legislation for Digital Nation Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja announced that Pakistan is taking a major step towards its digital future with the passage of the “Digital Nation Pakistan” legislation in the National Assembly.

The federal minister, while addressing a ceremony in Islamabad on Monday, said:

The legislation for Digital Nation Pakistan will be presented in the National Assembly (NA) at 5 pm. We are hopeful that within the next few days, it will be passed as a law with the formation of the National Digital Commission.

The initiative will be overseen by a high-level commission headed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The commission will include the four provincial chief ministers as well as heads of key regulatory bodies. These include the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and other key data holding institutions.

After the establishment of the commission, the Pakistan Digital Authority will be formed to develop a strong and comprehensive national framework. The authority will also develop a master plan for national digitalization, focusing on three key areas: economy, governance and society.

She added: “We are hopeful that with the establishment of a unified digital identity for every citizen of Pakistan, we will be on the path to unlocking the true potential that this country possesses.”

The federal minister expressed hope that several expected developments within the next year will significantly improve the health of the country’s technology sector.