Govt Shares Draft Cybercrime Amendment Bill With Ministries

The federal government has sent the draft Cybercrime Amendment Bill to relevant ministries for review before presenting it to the federal cabinet for approval, official sources told ProPakistani.

Sources said a consultation process will take place with all relevant stakeholders, including the Ministry of IT and Information and Broadcasting. Once feedback is gathered, the draft will be presented to the federal cabinet for approval. After the cabinet’s approval, the amended bill will be presented in parliament for further deliberation.

The proposed legislation includes severe penalties for those found guilty of spreading fake news, with a potential prison sentence of up to five years and a fine of Rs. 1 million. The draft will be finalized following consultations. Sources said there is a possibility of more amendments to the draft bill based on stakeholder input.

The initial draft of the amendment was developed jointly by the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Law. The government believes this will help address the growing issue of fake news.