The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication met this Thursday in Islamabad. However, the session ended without progress on the Electronic Transactions (Amendment) Bill, 2026. Despite the government’s push for digital reform, the committee decided to defer the bill.
Coalition Friction Halts Legislative Progress
The meeting, chaired by Syed Amin ul Haq, hit a roadblock due to political misalignment. During the session, a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lawmaker insisted that the bill must first be vetted by the party’s own legislative committee.
A Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) member quickly backed this proposal. They argued that the PPP is a vital ally. Therefore, the government must take them on board now to avoid a “potential embarrassment” when the bill eventually moves to a vote in Parliament. Consequently, the committee deferred the bill to allow for broader consultations among coalition partners.
NA Standing Committee: The Urgent Need for Digital Reform
While the politicians debated strategy, the Secretary of the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication highlighted the technical urgency. He briefed the committee on the rapid increase in electronic transactions across Pakistan.
According to the Ministry, the current legal framework is no longer sufficient. The Secretary emphasised several critical needs:
- Strengthening authentication mechanisms to secure users.
- Updating laws to handle the growing complexity of internet-based trade.
- Aligning institutions to create a cohesive vision for the digital economy.
He noted that legislative correction is the only way to keep pace with evolving global digital systems.
What Happens Next?
The Electronic Transactions (Amendment) Bill, 2026, is now on hold. It will only be taken up again after the government completes consultations with its stakeholders and coalition partners. For now, the push for a more secure digital framework remains paused by parliamentary red tape.
