Pakistan opposition rejects ‘Digital Nation’ bill over concerns of public surveillance

The Pakistani government’s push to pass the Digital Nation Pakistan Bill 2024 met resistance on Wednesday, as the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Information Technology postponed the matter after heated discussions.

Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) strongly opposed the bill, labeling it a “system of spying on citizens”.

The committee meeting, held for the second consecutive day, failed to reach a consensus, with members of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and National Party also objecting to the bill’s hasty approval.

Syed Aminul Haque, chairman of the Standing Committee, deferred the bill for further consultation, marking another setback for the government’s legislative agenda.

The opposition's worries

Ayub, speaking exclusively to Nukta, criticized the bill as a move toward unchecked digital surveillance. “This legislation is aimed at tightening control over the people of Pakistan,” he said.

“The government wants no one to know what’s happening behind closed doors. Internet services remain poor, but they’re more focused on weaponizing technology to track citizens.”

Ayub further alleged that intelligence agencies were slowing internet speeds and taking control of the digital infrastructure. He also raised concerns about the “triad” model, claiming it would divide bureaucracy and promote inefficiency rather than transparency.

“How will this system even work in all four provinces without proper consultation with experts and private sector stakeholders?” the opposition leader questioned.

What's in it for the govt

Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja dismissed the opposition’s claims, emphasizing that the bill is designed to empower citizens, not surveil them. “The purpose is to bring digital benefits to the common man, ensuring they can exercise their rights using technology,” she told Nukta.

Khawaja explained that the World Bank is a partner in the project, providing $78 million–$79 million in soft loans under its Digital Economic Enhancement Program. “This project has been under discussion for years. The IMF supports it as a way to make Pakistan’s economic system more transparent,” she said.

Addressing Ayub’s concerns, she stated, “There’s no truth to claims of public surveillance. This bill consolidates financial and credit data in one place to streamline services for citizens.”

Challenges

The Digital Nation Pakistan Bill, introduced in the National Assembly earlier this week, was fast-tracked to the Standing Committee for approval. However, opposition parties criticized the government for rushing the process without sufficient debate.

Despite the government’s insistence on the bill’s urgency, the committee’s lack of consensus underscores the growing divide over the role of digital infrastructure in governance.

What’s in the bill

The Digital Nation Pakistan Bill 2024, presented in the National Assembly, seeks to promote digitalization and strengthen the digital economy, guiding Pakistan's transition into a digitally empowered nation.

The bill establishes three key governance bodies: the National Digital Commission (NDC), the Strategic Oversight Committee (SOC), and the Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA).

The NDC will be a 17-member commission headed by the Prime Minister and include key officials as members: all provincial chief ministers, the ministers for IT, Planning and Development, Commerce, Finance, and Economic Affairs, as well as the Chairman of FBR, Chairman of PTA, Chairman of SECP, Governor of State Bank, and Chairperson of Pakistan Digital Authority.

The PDA will implement these policies by coordinating and harmonizing digital initiatives across all levels of government, and will be responsible for developing a National Digital Masterplan with assistance from leading global experts.

The National Digital Masterplan, which will provide a comprehensive strategy to align these various digital initiatives, will detail specific projects, required resources, timelines, and risk management strategies to ensure effective execution.

Meanwhile, the SOC will monitor the PDA's performance and provide independent reviews to the NDC to ensure alignment with the Masterplan.

Minister of State for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima told Nuktathat the Digital Nation Act 2024 will align with international standards and benefit ordinary citizens by securely storing and sharing their data across various government platforms.