The National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology on Thursday decided to defer the Electronic Transactions (Amendment) Bill 2026, giving the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication more time to consult stakeholders and refine the draft.
During the committee meeting, ministry officials told lawmakers that further discussions were necessary to address concerns and incorporate input from different sectors before advancing the bill.
“More consultation and discussion are needed on the bill. It should be deferred until the next meeting,” the officials said.
The committee agreed to take up the bill in its next session, allowing time for the draft to be updated and for feedback to be included. The amendment aims to modernize Pakistan’s digital legal framework, keeping pace with the growth of e-commerce, digital transactions, and evolving technology.
Lawmakers stressed the importance of broad consensus to ensure clarity, transparency, and alignment with the country’s expanding digital economy. The ministry will continue stakeholder engagement and review before presenting the bill again.