The approval of Pakistan’s long-awaited Data Protection Bill has been delayed once again, with the Ministry of Information Technology (IT) requesting an additional three weeks to finalize the draft.
Despite the original deadline of July 31 set by the Minister of State for IT Shaza Fatima to present the bill in parliament, even its draft is yet to be finalised, and two months have passed without its presentation in either the federal cabinet, National Assembly, or Senate.
According to official documents obtained by Samaa TV, the IT Ministry cited ongoing consultations with stakeholders as the primary reason for the delay. As per the documents, the ministry has sought three more weeks to finalise draft of the Data Protection Bill.
"The Ministry of IT has received several suggestions from stakeholders regarding the Data Protection Bill. Their suggestions will be thoroughly reviewed to address their concerns," the ministry maintains.
Also Read: Pakistan's Data Protection Bill pending since 2018
The ministry confirmed that it has already incorporated most of the feedback received from various parties. However, the need for further discussions with government bodies, particularly regarding the concerns of international stakeholders, has prolonged the drafting process.
The Data Protection Bill, aimed at safeguarding the personal data of Pakistani users, has been pending for several years. Security agencies have raised concerns over the lack of cross-border data protection, emphasizing the urgency of passing the bill.
Since 2018, multiple drafts of the bill have been formed, but disagreements among stakeholders have hindered any progress.
Minister of State for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja is now spearheading efforts for its early approval. The deadline for completing the draft is set for the end of July, with the bill expected to be presented in parliament in August.
International social media platforms, including Facebook, have expressed reservations about certain provisions of the bill.
