ISLAMABAD: The government on Monday presented the Digital Nation Pakistan Bill in the National Assembly with the aim of centralizing social, economic and governance data.
Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja presented the bill in Parliament.
The bill aims to transform Pakistan into a digitally empowered country by promoting a vibrant digital society, a strong digital economy, and effective digital governance.
The bill, recognizing the potential of digital technologies to drive innovation, economic growth and social well-being, seeks to accelerate sustainable development, enhance public service delivery, and modernize governance for better transparency and effectiveness. does
According to the bill, key governance bodies – National Digital Commission (NDC), Strategic Oversight Committee (SOC) and Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA) – will be established.
Chaired by the Prime Minister and comprising federal and provincial leadership, the NDC will formulate a strategic vision and policy framework for the country’s digital transformation.
Meanwhile, the PDA will implement these policies by coordinating and harmonizing digital initiatives at all levels of government and the SOC monitors the performance of the PDA and conducts an independent review of the NDC to ensure alignment with the Master Plan. provides
A cornerstone of the bill is the National Digital Master Plan, a plan to align and improve digital initiatives, eliminate redundancies at the federal, provincial and local levels and drive economic growth through the delivery of better public services. Provides a comprehensive strategy.
The implementation plan under the master plan will detail specific projects, required resources, timelines and risk management strategies to ensure effective implementation.
The bill further emphasizes effective data governance to ensure secure and responsible data management and prioritizes development of digital public infrastructure and data exchange layer to promote innovation. Enhancing public services, and protecting citizens’ privacy.
Additionally, the enactment of this legislation reflects Pakistan’s commitment to responsible use of digital technologies for economic growth, modern governance, and digital inclusion, aligning the nation with global best practices in the digital age. .