The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MOITT) has finalised a draft for Pakistan’s long-awaited data protection law, which is now set to enter the legislative process, a senior official revealed on Wednesday.
Speaking at a policy dialogue titled “Public-Private Dialogue (PPD) on Data Governance in Pakistan”, Ikram ul Haq Qureshi, a representative from MOITT, stated that the upcoming legislation — the Digital Nation Pakistan Act — will establish a national data governance authority aimed at enabling secure and structured data sharing between government bodies, private enterprises, and citizens.
“Data has become the new currency,” Qureshi said, emphasising the importance of safeguarding digital information in an increasingly connected world. He added that the new law is designed to ensure transparency, trust, and security in Pakistan’s digital ecosystem.
The policy dialogue was organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), and brought together experts from public and private sectors to discuss challenges and opportunities in building a robust framework for data governance.
SDPI Executive Director Dr. Abid Qaiyum Suleri highlighted the urgent need to move beyond fragmented regulation. “In our push for digitalisation, we’re overlooking crucial aspects of data protection,” he said, warning that unchecked data misuse could cause serious harm to individuals and institutions.
The draft law comes amid growing calls for Pakistan to harmonise its digital policies, improve cybersecurity standards, and ensure equitable access to information — all of which are essential for fostering public trust and economic resilience in the digital age.
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