The Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecom has approved the Digital Nation Pakistan Bill 2025, with 4 votes in favor and 2 against. Amendments to Section 7 proposed by Senator Kamran Murtaza were rejected by a majority vote.
The committee, chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan, held a meeting to review the bill. Senator Kamran Murtaza and Senator Saifullah Niazi opposed the bill.
Before the vote, the committee chairperson questioned why the Minister of State, Sheza Fatima, did not attend, to which the IT Ministry officials explained that a close relative of the minister had passed away.
Senator Kamran Murtaza proposed an amendment to Section 67, stating that the bill interferes with the rights of the provinces. Senator Palwasha Khan suggested consulting the Ministry of Law, which clarified that the subject was already under federal jurisdiction, and the federal government was exercising its existing powers.
The Secretary of the Ministry of IT stated that the commission formed under the bill would be a high-level body responsible for all decisions.
Senator Manzoor Kakar emphasized that the provinces should receive their share under the bill. The IT Ministry Secretary confirmed that the commission includes provincial representation. Senator Kakar also inquired about the funds provided by the World Bank, to which the IT Secretary replied that the World Bank had approved $78 million for the DEP project.
Chairperson Senator Palwasha Khan concluded that the bill would be approved today.
