Core Text and Policy Framework of the "Digital Pakistan Act of the Year"

Key Chapter Title List

1. General Provisions
2. National Digital Commission
3. Pakistan Digital Authority
4. Oversight Committee
5. National Digital Master Plan
6. Fund, Accounts, and Audit
7. Governance, Operations, and Accountability
8. Regulatory and Legal Provisions

Document Introduction

Against the backdrop of the accelerating global digital transformation, Pakistan has formulated the "Digital Pakistan Act, 2025" to unlock the transformative potential of digital technologies, responsibly utilize data resources, innovate public service models, and build robust digital public infrastructure. The Act aims to promote sustainable economic development, enhance citizen well-being, modernize the governance framework, and ultimately transform Pakistan into a digital nation.

The Act clarifies the legal definitions of core concepts such as digital nation, digital society, digital economy, and digital governance, establishing a three-tier governance structure comprising the National Digital Commission, the Pakistan Digital Authority, and the Oversight Committee. Chaired by the Prime Minister, the National Digital Commission brings together key leaders from the federation and provinces as well as heads of critical departments, undertaking responsibilities for setting strategic direction, policy coordination, and approving the master plan. The Pakistan Digital Authority serves as the executive body, responsible for the formulation, implementation, and oversight/updating of the digital master plan. The Oversight Committee performs independent review and performance evaluation functions, ensuring transparency and accountability in the Act's implementation.

The core content of the Act revolves around the National Digital Master Plan, requiring the development of a comprehensive blueprint covering a strategic framework, sectoral plans for key areas (health, education, agriculture, finance, etc.), a digital economy development plan, implementation rules, and technical standards. It also establishes a regular review and revision mechanism to adapt to digital trends and national development needs. Simultaneously, the Act establishes a non-lapsable "Digital Nation Fund," clarifies its funding sources and usage scope, provides financial guarantees for fulfilling digital transformation-related functions, infrastructure construction, and project implementation, and establishes strict budget, audit, and disclosure systems.

Regarding implementation safeguards, the Act stipulates the compliance obligations and collaborative responsibilities of all relevant entities, establishes mechanisms for monitoring, evaluation, compliance enforcement, and corrective measures, and clarifies development requirements for key areas such as digital public infrastructure, data governance, and citizen digital service experience. Furthermore, by clarifying regulatory and legal provisions such as legal liabilities, delegation of powers, rule-making authority, and policy directives, the Act provides comprehensive institutional support for its implementation, ensuring the legality, orderliness, and sustainability of Pakistan's digital transformation process.

The enactment of this Act marks Pakistan's elevation of digital transformation to a national strategy. Through legalized and systematic institutional design, it integrates federal and local resources, promotes public-private sector collaboration, and lays a solid legal foundation for building a digital society, fostering a prosperous digital economy, and optimizing digital governance. It is a significant measure for Pakistan to align with global digital development trends and enhance national competitiveness.