The government has presented the Digital Nation Bill in the National Assembly, aimed at digitizing the country. The process of getting the bill approved by Parliament has begun, with the goal of digitalizing the Pakistani nation and its governance. Under the bill, every citizen will be issued a digital ID by NADRA, which will contain personal and financial details accessible with a single click. This includes records from NADRA, FBR, SECP, electricity and gas bills, and bank transaction details. The government claims this will make life easier for citizens and empower them.
State Minister for IT, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, stated that citizens will be able to use services like identity cards and passports on their phones, and verify documents or register businesses digitally. She emphasized that the bill is transferring power from the state back to the people. However, concerns have been raised, particularly by the opposition, regarding the potential misuse of the law.
Opposition leader, Omar Ayub, expressed fears that the bill could be used as a tool against the public, allowing complete surveillance, with every action, including mobile usage, being tracked.
Digital rights experts are also raising concerns about the protection of citizens’ data. Executive Director of Digital Rights Foundation, Nighat Dad, pointed out that there is no data protection regime in place. She highlighted past data breaches, such as those involving National Bank and FBR, and questioned who would be responsible in case of further breaches. Without adequate protection, centralizing IDs is not a welcome move.
The bill also proposes the establishment of two new bodies: the National Digital Commission, chaired by the Prime Minister, and the Pakistan Digital Authority, composed of six IT experts. The Ministry of IT claims these new bodies will help in the digitalization of government functions.
