IT Ministry Opposes Data Protection Bill 2023

The Ministry of IT and Telecom Pakistan has raised objections to the Personal Data Protection Bill 2023, which was proposed by Senator Afnan Ullah. The Ministry argues that the bill, which was submitted as a Private Member’s Bill, contains several legal and procedural flaws that make it unsuitable for consideration.

The Ministry pointed out that the bill does not follow the required legislative protocols and deviates from the constitutional framework. It also noted that the bill had not been reviewed by key stakeholders such as the Finance and Law Divisions, which is a mandatory step for any bill to proceed under the Rules of Business 1973.

Additionally, the MoITT highlighted concerns regarding the potential #financial implications of the bill. It argued that the bill would lead to expenditures that require the Federal Government’s approval, as mandated by Article 74 of the Constitution.

The Ministry emphasized that its own draft of the Personal Data Protection Bill has been carefully developed with input from more than 100 public and private sector stakeholders. This version of the bill aligns with international standards, including the General Data Protection Regulation (#GDPR), and is already in the approval process with the Federal Cabinet.