Islamabad, December 16,2024: The government has initiated discussions with its political allies to amend the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) in an effort to tighten control over digital content. Senior government officials indicate that the proposed amendments, once finalized, may be presented in Parliament for approval next week.
Official sources revealed that the proposed changes aim to regulate online content, investigate violations, and establish two new authorities with extensive powers to take legal action against offenders. Meanwhile, the Digital Nation Pakistan Bill is set to be introduced in the National Assembly today. Under this proposed legislation, two key institutions will be established.
The National Digital Commission, to be headed by the Prime Minister, will include the four provincial chief ministers as well as the heads of the State Bank, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). The second institution, the Pakistan Digital Authority, will be led by prominent experts.
Sources reveal that the primary objective of the proposed law is to create a digital identity for every citizen. The Digital Nation Pakistan Act will provide uninterrupted access to essential services, encompassing birth certificates, educational records, health records, land records, assets, businesses, police certificates, and national identity cards. Officials added that the federal government has already transitioned 65% of its operations to e-governance systems.
