The Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecom approved the Digital Nation Pakistan Bill 2025 on Monday, with four votes in favor and two against. The bill, which aims to transform Pakistan into a fully digital nation, has now been officially passed.
During the session, the committee debated proposed amendments to Section 7 of the bill, introduced by one of the lawmakers. Initially, four members supported the amendments, but Senator Nadeem Bhutto later withdrew his vote, citing concerns about the section. As a result, the amendments failed to secure approval, leaving the original text of the bill unchanged.
The Digital Nation Pakistan Bill 2025 outlines the creation of a 17-member National Digital Commission, which will be chaired by the Prime Minister. The commission will include:
- Chief ministers of all provinces
- Federal ministers
- Heads of key institutions, including the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP)
The commission will oversee the development and implementation of a National Digital Master Plan, which aims to accelerate Pakistan’s digital transformation. It will also coordinate efforts among government bodies and take action against non-compliance with the master plan.
The bill proposes the formation of a Pakistan Digital Authority, tasked with implementing the National Digital Master Plan. The authority’s chairman and members will be appointed by the Prime Minister for a four-year term.
To ensure accountability, a Strategic Oversight Committee will be established to evaluate the authority’s performance. This committee will be chaired by the relevant federal minister.
