The National Assembly of Pakistan approved the Digital Nation Bill on Thursday, laying the groundwork for sweeping digital reforms in the country.
Federal Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja presented the bill, which passed by a majority vote. The proposed bill establishes an 18-member National Digital Commission chaired by Pakistan’s Prime Minister to develop and implement a comprehensive National Digital Master Plan for transforming the country’s digital landscape across federal, provincial and local levels.
The legislation also creates a Pakistan Digital Authority with a three-member team and oversight committee, supported by a Digital Nation Fund, to drive digital transformation across key sectors while ensuring stakeholder consultation and proper implementation frameworks.
National Digital Commission and master plan
According to the bill, an 18-member National Digital Commission will be established under the chairmanship of Pakistan’s Prime Minister. The commission will include the chief ministers of all four provinces, federal ministers, and the chairpersons of key institutions including the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), and the Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan.
The commission will be responsible for approving and implementing the National Digital Master Plan, which will provide comprehensive frameworks for digital transformation across federal, provincial, and local levels. The commission can issue directives to entities to align their strategic direction, policies, and operations with the master plan. It will also have the authority to review cases of non-compliance and grant exceptions or issue further directives as necessary.
Pakistan Digital Authority and its oversight committee
Under the bill, the Pakistan Digital Authority will be established as a corporate body with perpetual succession and a common seal. The prime minister will nominate the chairman of this three-member authority. Both the chairman and members will serve four-year terms, with eligibility for one additional term. The authority will have administrative and financial powers to enter into agreements, manage funds, acquire property, and take legal action.
A strategic oversight committee will be established to monitor the Digital Authority’s performance. The committee will be chaired by the concerned federal minister and will consist of six members, including secretaries from key divisions and four independent members from the private sector with expertise in telecommunications, finance, and information technology. This committee will provide independent review of the authority’s financial management and performance to the commission.
According to the bill, the National Digital Master Plan will establish sectoral plans for key areas including health, social protection, education, agriculture, finance, industries, trade, commerce and governance. The plan will also include digital economy development strategies and implementation frameworks. The Digital Authority will conduct annual reviews of the plan’s implementation.
Who will pay for all this?
The bill establishes a Digital Nation Fund to meet financial requirements, which will include federal government funding, grants, and international financial instruments. The bill also requires consultation with relevant stakeholders during the formulation of the master plan.
For implementing the plan, the commission will be empowered to seek assistance through two channels: from the federal cabinet via the Ministry of Information and IT, and from external experts or agencies as needed.
Opposition concerns: Data protection, surveillance
Opposition Leader Omar Ayub Khan of PTI criticized Pakistan’s Digital Nation Bill, characterizing it as a surveillance system aimed at tightening control over citizens. Speaking to Pointhe critiqued both the legislation’s intent and implementation, claiming the bill would enable unchecked digital surveillance of the population.
"The government wants no one to know what’s happening behind closed doors,” Ayub said. "Internet services remain poor, but they’re more focused on weaponizing technology to track citizens.” He alleged that intelligence agencies were already slowing internet speeds and taking control of the digital infrastructure.
The opposition leader also raised serious concerns about the bill’s "triad” model of governance, arguing it would create bureaucratic divisions and promote inefficiency rather than the transparency the government claims to seek.
He particularly questioned the feasibility of implementing such a system across all four provinces without proper consultation with technical experts and private sector stakeholders.
