NA body defers Electronic Transactions Amendment Bill, 2026

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication in Pakistan recently deferred the Electronic Transactions Amendment Bill, 2026. The bill's fate has been put on hold as government representatives seek additional time to finalize proposed changes in consultation with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

The Ministry of Law and Justice informed the committee that discussions with the PPP are progressing favorably, with consensus anticipated soon. The bill will be revisited at the committee's next meeting. However, the committee expressed dissatisfaction with the country's persistently poor internet services. Despite two years of parliamentary scrutiny, the quality of connectivity has not significantly improved.

Even in major cities like Karachi and Islamabad, the internet remains unreliable, with frequent disruptions affecting daily life, including WhatsApp calls.

Major General Hafeezur Rehman, Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), informed the committee that five show-cause notices have been issued to telecom operators for subpar service quality over the past three months. However, recovering these penalties has been delayed due to stay orders issued by courts. Rehman attributed much of the internet disruption to frequent power outages, particularly in rural regions, where electricity cuts can last between 12 and 16 hours daily.

On the topic of 5G deployment, Rehman reported that around 70 percent of services in Karachi have been rolled out, and approximately 2,300 telecom towers have been upgraded to support the new technology. The Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA) presented the National Digital Master Plan to the committee, aimed at fostering a digital society, economy, and governance. The PDA projected that digital transformation could potentially add between USD 60 billion and USD 80 billion to Pakistan's GDP over the next five years.