Consultations concluded on the National Data Governance Policy 2026

The National Data Governance Policy 2026 has moved from draft to final stage.

The draft was reviewed this week at a high-level consultation in Islamabad, chaired by Shaza Khawaja, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, and organized by the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication Pakistan in collaboration with the Pakistan Digital Authority. Senior officials from federal ministries, provincial governments, and public sector organizations attended.

The Government of Pakistan is the country's largest holder of data, and the Data Governance Policy gives it a comprehensive framework for how that data is managed, protected, and shared. PDA presented the policy framework and the stakeholders shared recommendations on data governance, legal alignment, interoperability, and implementation.

Dr. Sohail Munir, Chairperson, PDA, explained how the policy supports the National Digital Masterplan, sector-wide digital transformation, and the development of Digital Public Infrastructure. He also clarified what the policy does not do. It does not propose unrestricted data sharing, and it does not centralize government data. Ownership and protection remain with the institution that already holds the record. WASL, Pakistan's National Data Exchange Layer, will enable secure exchange between institutions, governed by proper data classification.

PDA will now work stakeholder feedback into the draft before finalizing the policy. The framework will include a phased implementation plan and capacity-building initiatives.

The National Data Governance Policy settles the question of stewardship. The Government holds data on behalf of the people it serves, and this policy fixes where ownership sits and where accountability lies.