THE Digital Nation Pakistan Bill, 2024, is an important initiative aimed at not only improving the people’s lives, but also raising the status of the country in the digital world. The new bill is aimed at working enhancing the country’s internet infrastructure.

This includes the use of technology in every sphere of governance with the view to make such governance efficient, effe-ctive and accessible. The most important point of the bill is to lower the barriers to digital infrastructure development, which will promote the use of information technology for creating businesses in the digital age. But it is impossible without a stable internet speed and access. The government must realise that we cannot improve the economy without the internet in this world and age.

Building up national cyberspace security, safeguarding data, and raising the capacity against all types of cyberthreats are key targets, but that should not be done at the cost of one’s privacy. The government should also be concerned that state control will ultimately affect access to social media. The government bill has its fair share of merits, but the demerits must also be discussed with equal importance.

Asif Thebo
Karachi

Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2025