The approval of Pakistan’s long-awaited Data Protection Bill has faced another delay, with the Ministry of Information Technology (IT) requesting an additional three weeks to finalize the draft.
Originally, Minister of State for IT Shaza Fatima set a deadline of July 31 for presenting the bill in parliament. However, two months have passed without the draft being finalized or presented to the federal cabinet, National Assembly, or Senate.
According to official documents obtained by Samaa TV, the IT Ministry attributed the delay to ongoing consultations with stakeholders. The ministry has asked for three more weeks to complete the draft of the Data Protection Bill.
“The Ministry of IT has received various suggestions from stakeholders regarding the Data Protection Bill. These suggestions will be carefully reviewed to address their concerns,” the ministry stated.
While the ministry confirmed that it has incorporated much of the feedback from different parties, further discussions with government entities—particularly about the concerns of international stakeholders—have extended the drafting process.
This bill, designed to protect the personal data of Pakistani users, has been pending for several years. Security agencies have raised alarms about the absence of cross-border data protection, underscoring the urgency of passing the legislation.
Since 2018, multiple drafts have been created, but disagreements among stakeholders have stalled progress.
Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja is currently leading efforts for its expedited approval, with the draft now expected to be completed by the end of July and the bill presented to parliament in August.
International social media platforms, including Facebook, have raised concerns about certain provisions within the bill, adding to the complexities surrounding its approval.
