The Digital Nation Pakistan Bill 2024 has cleared a key hurdle, passing the National Assembly’s IT and Telecom Standing Committee despite significant opposition from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. The bill secured approval by a narrow margin of 10 votes in favor to 6 against, falling short of the committee chairman, Amin Ul Haq’s, hope for unanimous support.

The contentious vote followed a heated debate during which Minister of State for IT, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, addressed concerns raised by several prominent PTI members. These included Umar Ayub Khan, Umair Niazi, and Barrister Gohar, who expressed anxieties about potential data centralization and privacy violations.

Minister Khawaja countered these concerns, emphasizing that the bill’s aim is to create a more efficient and accessible digital identity system, simplifying access to government services and reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks. She stressed that the system would not consolidate all data in a single location, a key fear voiced by the opposition.

She further reassured the committee that substantial investments are being made to bolster cybersecurity infrastructure, aligning with the broader goals of the Digital Master Plan. The plan, she explained, aims to significantly strengthen Pakistan’s digital security posture. The minister highlighted the convenience factor, stating that the bill will allow citizens to access numerous services through their mobile phones, eliminating the need for lengthy queues at government offices.

Despite the Minister’s reassurances, PTI members remained unconvinced, arguing that their concerns regarding potential misuse of data and the lack of sufficient safeguards remained unaddressed. They urged the committee to reconsider the bill, suggesting further amendments and consultations were necessary before proceeding. However, their objections were ultimately overruled, leading to the bill’s passage.