ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on IT and Telecom has approved the Digital Nation Pakistan Bill 2024.
A meeting of the committee, chaired by Amin-ul-Haq, discussed the government’s proposed bill. Minister of State for IT, Sheza Fatima Khawaja, said amendments had been made to the bill, and all members were provided with the updated version.
Committee member Omar Ayub criticized the state of internet services, mentioning damage to undersea cables and slow internet speeds during political gatherings. He expressed opposition to the bill on behalf of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Another member, Umair Niazan, raised concerns about the country’s struggling digital economy. He urged the committee to address members’ reservations and avoid rushing decisions.
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Barrister Gohar questioned the need for a digital commission. In response, Sheza Fatima explained that there is no plan to centralize data.
She said digitization will make public services more accessible and help address issues like financial fraud and cyber threats. She emphasized the need to modernize government institutions to solve basic problems and ensure transparency.
After hearing all members, Chairman Amin-ul-Haq expressed the hope for a unanimous decision, during voting, 10 members supported the bill, while six opposed it. With majority support, the Digital Nation Pakistan Bill 2024 was passed.
