Improving security, curbing identity theft and creating an infrastructure of trust are high on every government's digital agenda. Around the world, countries such as Estonia, Singapore, Australia and the UAE have already embraced Digital Identity (Digital ID) systems, transforming how citizens access government and private services securely. These models show that Digital ID is not just a technological innovation; it is the foundation of transparent governance and inclusive growth.

As a legal consultant engaged under the World Bank's Digital Economy Enhancement Project (DEEP), I had the privilege of authoring Pakistan's Digital ID Regulations, 2025, and the National Data Exchange Layer (NDEL) Regulations, 2025, the world's first comprehensive legal frameworks regulating Digital ID and its technological foundation, NDEL. Drafting these legal frameworks has reinforced my conviction that a secure and inclusive Digital ID system is essential to Pakistan's digital future.

Pakistan stands at a decisive point in its digital transformation. A........

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