The federal cabinet on Tuesday approved Pakistan’s first-ever Cloud Policy as well as the Personal Data Protection Bill.
According to sources privy to the development, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Syed Amin Ul Haque confirmed the cabinet’s approval of the policy and the bill after the cabinet meeting, saying that the Personal Data Protection Bill would become an Act after approval by Parliament.
Explaining the objective of the bill, Amin Ul Haque said it was aimed to ensure the privacy of online data of the citizens and the public and private institutions. He asserted that all the agencies and institutions concerned would ensure the compatibility of data, services, and systems with cyber security.
Referring to the Cloud Policy, the Minister said the maiden policy would cover federal ministries, departments, and autonomous agencies. He said that Data Centers of Federal Ministries and Departments will be phased into the cloud with the required requirements which will reduce government expenditure, protect data and increase the efficiency of the department’s online activities and services.
The Minister remarked that it was hard to bear huge expenditure on various data centers for ministries and agencies and on the related process of upgrading. He added that these reforms would help reduce government expenditure, protect data, and increase the efficiency of state institutions.
After approval, a Cloud Board, a Cloud Office, and a Cloud Acquisition Office will be established under the IT Ministry.
“The Cloud Board will consist of Secretary IT as Chairman, Chief Secretaries of the four provinces and two IT experts. The Cloud Office will oversee the accreditation, quality, security and departmental IT affairs of Cloud Service Providers.” He added.
The Cloud Office will oversee accreditation, quality, security, and departmental IT affairs of cloud service providers. And, the Cloud Acquisition Office will provide assistance to various organizations in obtaining cloud servicing.
Syed Amin-Ul-Haque said that Federal ministries and more than 200 departments, authorities and autonomous bodies each have their own small or large data center whose operational costs have always been a problem and a burden on the national exchequer. They will all be able to move to sharing platforms and get more efficient and secure services than before on a modest monthly payment according to their needs.
“Setting up data centers takes months to purchase equipment. Until the funds are approved, new systems or new digital requirements will emerge, then the cost of other items including the purchase of equipment for each company will be eliminated then the import bill will be minimized,” said Minister IT.
Regarding the procedure, the Federal Minister for IT Syed Amin-Ul-Haque said; the Cloud Board would accredit the cloud service providers with the required capabilities and equipment. The board will then, through the Planning Commission, and PAPRA, ensure that any federal ministry or agency can review data or equipment requirements and transfer them to the cloud.
The board will also ensure that existing data centers are phased out to the central cloud, while the Operational Office will provide technical assistance to departments about transferring on Clouds.
Haque said that the Cabinet has approved the Personal Data Protection Bill in principle after which it will be presented in Parliament. This bill will become an act after approval.
Haque thanked Prime Minister Imran Khan and all the members of the Federal Cabinet for approving the policy and the bill and said that this process would help Pakistan to adapt to the digital world in terms of global requirements.
Referring to the Personal Data Protection Bill, the Federal Minister for IT said; “Its primary objective is to ensure the protection of online data, information and privacy of Pakistani citizens while maintaining their privacy. In this regard, all relevant public and private institutions will ensure that their data, services, ICT products and systems are in line with the requirements of cybersecurity”.
He said that regular meetings of the Drafting Committee of Personal Data Protection Bill were held not only in these meetings but also in the meetings of the relevant committees they showed their complete satisfaction with the draft.
