ISLAMABAD: The federal government is presenting a bill in the National Assembly today to establish a digital identity system for citizens, to centralize social, economic, and governance data under a unified framework.
According to the National Assembly Secretariat’s agenda, the Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, will present The Digital Nation Pakistan Bill, 2024 during Monday’s session.
The proposed legislation seeks to transform Pakistan into a “digital nation” by fostering a digital society, digital economy, and digital governance, as outlined in the agenda. Approved by the federal cabinet in June, the bill is a cornerstone of the government’s push for digitization and e-governance.
Key Features of the Bill:
- Creation of Two New Bodies:
- National Digital Commission (NDC): Headed by the Prime Minister, the NDC will include all four provincial chief ministers and heads of key organizations like the State Bank of Pakistan, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
- Pakistan Digital Authority: Led by industry experts, this body will oversee the implementation of digital transformation initiatives.
- Introduction of Digital Identity:
The bill proposes a unique digital identity for every citizen, consolidating data on health, assets, and other social indicators. This system aims to enhance access to critical services such as ID cards, land records, birth certificates, and health records. - Modernization of Government Departments:
Government institutions will be given performance targets to improve services using digitized systems.
Digital expert Habibullah Khan, CEO of Penumbra and a key figure in Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) research, highlighted the bill’s alignment with the Global Digital Compact. He described DPI as a “stack of technologies” comprising three essential systems: Digital ID, a universal payment interface, and data exchange. According to Mr. Khan, these systems enable countries to accelerate digital transformation and fast-track development by decades.
Addressing Implementation Challenges
When asked why new entities are being created despite the presence of existing organizations, Mr. Khan explained that the scale of digital transformation envisioned in the bill requires coordination among multiple regulators, ministries, and departments. No single ministry currently has the capacity to manage a program of this magnitude.
The legislation represents a significant step toward building Pakistan’s digital public infrastructure, aiming to enhance governance and improve public services through technology.
