The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) has moved to finalize the National Data Governance Policy 2026 after completing extensive consultations with federal and provincial governments, public sector organizations, and other key stakeholders.
The draft policy was reviewed during a high-level consultative meeting chaired by Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja and organized by the ministry in collaboration with the Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA).
Speaking at the meeting, the minister described the policy as a major milestone in Pakistan’s digital transformation, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive framework to manage, protect, share, and responsibly use government data.
She said the government, as the country’s largest custodian of public data, requires a modern governance system that ensures secure data management while supporting innovation and digital public services. The minister added that feedback from stakeholders would help make the policy practical and aligned with Pakistan’s digital priorities.
Pakistan Digital Authority Chairman Dr. Sohail Munir said the policy will support the National Digital Master Planand the development of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) by promoting secure data governance and improving interoperability among government institutions.
He clarified that the proposed framework does not seek to centralize all government data or permit unrestricted sharing. Instead, ownership of data will remain with individual government entities, while the WASL framework will enable secure data exchange based on data classification and governance standards.
During the consultation, participants discussed key issues including data governance, interoperability, legal harmonization, data classification, and implementation mechanisms.
The Pakistan Digital Authority will now incorporate stakeholder feedback before finalizing the policy. The final framework will include a phased implementation plan, capacity-building initiatives, and governance arrangementsto establish a nationwide data management system.
