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. Funds, 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 enacted the "Digital Pakistan Act, 2025" to unlock the transformative potential of digital technologies, responsibly utilize data resources, innovate public service delivery models, and build robust digital public infrastructure. The Act aims to promote sustainable economic development, enhance citizen well-being, modernize governance frameworks, and ultimately transform Pakistan into a digital nation.

The Act provides legal definitions for 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. The National Digital Commission, chaired by the Prime Minister and comprising key federal and provincial leaders as well as heads of critical departments, is responsible for setting strategic direction, policy coordination, and approving the master plan. The Pakistan Digital Authority serves as the executive body, tasked with formulating, implementing, and overseeing updates to the digital master plan. The Oversight Committee performs independent review and performance evaluation functions to ensure 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 encompassing 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 mechanism for periodic review and revision to adapt to digital trends and national development needs. Concurrently, the Act establishes a non-lapsable Digital Pakistan Fund, clarifies its funding sources and usage scope to provide financial support for digital transformation functions, infrastructure development, and project implementation, and institutes strict budgeting, auditing, and public disclosure systems.

Regarding implementation safeguards, the Act stipulates compliance obligations and collaboration responsibilities for 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, through regulatory and legal provisions detailing 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 journey.

The enactment of this Act signifies 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 thriving digital economy, and optimizing digital governance. It represents a crucial step for Pakistan to align with global digital development trends and enhance national competitiveness.