State Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja tabled the Digital Nation Pakistan Bill – legislation aimed at creating citizens’ digital identity – in the National Assembly on Monday.

“The Digital Nation Pakistan Act, 2024, aims to transform Pakistan into a digitally empowered nation by fostering a dynamic digital society, a robust digital economy, and efficient digital governance,” said the statement of objects and reasons.

The legislative initiative seeks to “modernize” governance practices, ensuring that the benefits of digitisation reach all citizens and improve overall governmental effectiveness.

The bill has been referred to the relevant standing committee for further consideration.

As part of the initiative, the bill proposes the establishment of a National Digital Commission (NDC), Strategic Oversight Committee (SOC) and the Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA) to oversee the country’s digital transformation.

The prime minister would preside over the NDC. The committee, which would comprise federal and provincial leadership, would “set the strategic vision and policy framework” for the country’s digital transformation.

Moreover, the PDA would implement such policies by harmonizing digital initiatives across all levels of government and the SOC monitors the PDA’s performance and provides an independent review to the NDC ensuring alignment with the “Masterplan.”

The bill aims to provide a “comprehensive strategy” to enhance economic growth by guiding and improving digital initiatives through better service delivery at the federal, provincial, and local levels.

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Under the master plan, the implementation strategy would detail specific required resources, timelines, and risk management strategies to ensure effective execution. It emphasises the importance of effective data governance to ensure secure and responsible management, prioritizing the development of digital public infrastructure and promoting data literacy.

Key components of the legislation include fostering innovation, enhancing public services, and protecting citizens’ privacy.

“The enactment of this legislation reflects Pakistan’s commitment to responsibly leveraging digital technologies for growth, modern governance, and digital inclusion, aligning the nation with global best practices in the digital age,” it said.