Opposition Mounts Against Government’s Rush to Approve Digital Nation Pakistan Bill, 2024

Minister Pushes for Urgent Approval of Digital Nation Pakistan Bill

ISLAMABAD: The IT Minister’s push to expedite the Digital Nation Pakistan Bill, 2024 faced backlash from members of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology. The minister’s call for urgent approval was met with concerns from lawmakers, who argued that the bill required more time for thorough review. The bill aims to digitize Pakistan’s society, economy, and governance, and was introduced in the National Assembly just a day before the meeting.

Hasty Approval Raises Concerns

The committee’s session, led by Syed Aminul Haque, focused solely on reviewing the bill. Minister of State for Information Technology, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, emphasized the need for fast approval, claiming that any delay could lead to a 1.5-month break due to winter holidays, thus delaying the bill’s progress. She encouraged the committee to approve the bill promptly to avoid further delays.

However, some committee members expressed their concerns. Sharmila Faruqi from the PPP pointed out that while the bill is a positive initiative, it requires more discussion. “The bill proposes the creation of a commission and an authority, but there are still unclear aspects, especially regarding the data exchange layer,” she noted.

Call for Further Review

Sher Ali Arbab from the PTI also objected to the rushed approval, stressing that the bill had been presented just a day earlier. He suggested a follow-up meeting within a few days for a more comprehensive review. Syed Ali Kasim Gilani of PPP acknowledged the importance of the bill but raised concerns about the proposed commission’s complexity, noting that it includes the prime minister, key federal ministers, and the chief ministers of all four provinces.

Support and Clarifications

IT Secretary Zarrar Hasham Khan addressed some of the concerns by explaining that the data exchange layer is essentially an interchange system. He assured that feedback had been gathered from the Pakistan Software Houses Association (PASHA) and other stakeholders. He emphasized that the bill’s purpose is to facilitate digital governance, streamline processes such as degree verification from the Higher Education Commission (HEC), and create a digital system to benefit the general public.

Dr. Mahesh Kumar from the PPP suggested that input from Pakistani experts abroad should be considered, and political parties should be consulted more extensively to ensure broad support for the initiative.

Political Leadership’s Involvement

Shaza Fatima Khawaja defended the bill, asserting that political leadership would be consulted before the National Assembly debate. She highlighted that the bill would reduce red tape, address bureaucratic delays, and enhance various sectors, including healthcare, by improving systems for disease tracking.

In the end, the committee decided to postpone the bill’s approval until Wednesday for further deliberations.