Senator Afnan Ullah on Monday expressed frustration over being prevented from presenting his Virtual Assets Bill 2025, accusing the government of deliberately blocking his efforts. During a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecom, the senator voiced his anger, stating, “I spent months drafting this bill, and now I’m barred from presenting it.”

The senator criticized the Ministry of IT and Telecom (MoITT), accusing it of undermining private member initiatives and sidelining his work. He vowed to move a privilege motion over the issue, highlighting his dissatisfaction with the ministry’s handling of legislative matters.

The Virtual Assets Bill 2025, which was first blocked during an Upper House session on Monday, aims to regulate the issuance, use, trading, and utilization of virtual assets in Pakistan. It also proposes the introduction of a Digital Rupee backed by the Pakistani Rupee (PKR), among other measures.

Meanwhile, the committee also discussed the long-delayed Personal Data Protection Bill, with IT Ministry officials revealing that consultations with stakeholders are still ongoing. Member Legal (MoITT) informed the committee that the federal cabinet had approved the bill in 2022, but it now requires re-approval in principle.

The committee decided to hold a public hearing on the Personal Data Protection Bill to gather input from stakeholders. Suggestions were also made to merge Senator Afnan Ullah’s Virtual Assets Bill with the government’s version to expedite the legislative process.

Throughout the session, Senator Afnan Ullah criticized the Ministry of IT for its lack of seriousness, claiming that his personal data had been stolen. He also accused the ministry of delegating its responsibilities to other entities, further questioning its commitment to addressing critical issues.