The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) has started the final phase of the National Data Governance Policy 2026 after completing consultations with federal and provincial departments, public sector institutions and other stakeholders.

The draft policy was reviewed during a high-level consultation meeting chaired by Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja and held in collaboration with the Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA).

The minister said the policy would provide a structured framework for managing, protecting, sharing and using government data responsibly. She highlighted that effective data governance is essential for Pakistan’s digital transformation and that stakeholder input would help create a practical framework aligned with national priorities.

PDA Chairman Dr. Sohail Munir said the policy would support the National Digital Master Plan and strengthen Digital Public Infrastructure by improving secure data exchange and coordination between government institutions.

He clarified that the framework would not create a centralized government data repository or permit unrestricted access to information. Instead, individual government bodies would continue to own their data, while the WASL framework would facilitate controlled and secure data sharing based on classification and governance standards.

The consultation covered key areas including data governance structures, interoperability, legal alignment, data classification and implementation strategies.

The Pakistan Digital Authority will incorporate feedback from stakeholders before finalizing the policy, which will include phased implementation, institutional capacity building and governance mechanisms for managing Pakistan’s national data ecosystem.