Pakistan’s National Assembly has overwhelmingly approved the Digital Nation Pakistan Bill 2024. The bill, passed alongside amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), aims to establish a comprehensive framework for digital transformation across the country.

The legislation establishes a 18-member National Digital Commission, chaired by the Prime Minister. The Commission will include the Chief Ministers of all four provinces, relevant federal ministers, the chairmen of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), NADRA, PTA, SECP, and the Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan.

The Commission will be responsible for approving a national digital master plan and its implementation, coordinating digital transformation efforts across government, and taking disciplinary action against authorities failing to implement the plan.

A three-member Digital Authority will also be created under the bill, with the Prime Minister appointing the chairman. Appointments to the Authority will be for four-year terms. A Strategic Oversight Committee, chaired by the relevant federal minister and comprising six members, will oversee the Authority’s performance.

The digital master plan, a key component of the bill, aims to transform Pakistan into a digital nation. It will outline a roadmap for digital transformation across various sectors, fostering the development of a digital economy and fully digitizing the Governor’s system. Stakeholder consultations will inform the development of this master plan.

The Digital Authority will conduct annual reviews of the master plan’s implementation. A Digital Nation Fund will be established to meet the Commission’s financial needs. The Commission will be able to seek assistance from the federal cabinet through the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, and can engage experts or agencies to support implementation.