Personal comments on @ramshajahangir's situationer on the 'Digital Pakistan' programme [Thread]
dawn.com/news/amp/15259…
dawn.com/news/amp/15259…
I find it incredible why 'Security' or 'Safety' (integrity of digital ecosystem) isn't even acknowledged as a concern at all. Reflects lack of holistic approach toward national-level policymaking. 
The reporter rightly points out overlapping mandates between the mandate given to Ms Aidrus at PMO and Mr Shah's initiatives in NITB. For me, this only indicates confusion and lack of a clear direction. Disconnect and turf wars naturally follow, to national detriment.
In my view, most baffling part of the report is Ms Aidrus' claim that Pak is not in a position to protect tech giants' interests due to various inadequacies. I was under the assumption Ms Aidrus was appointed to secure OUR national interests viz foreign companies, not vice versa!
Foreign tech giants like Facebook, Google, Twitter et al are already in possession of our citizens' data as commercial property. Instead of passing data protection laws and binding externals on compliance, Ms Aidrus is worried about THEIR integrity!
Granted we have systemic shortcomings and legislative lacunae. This does not justify scrapping even basic efforts to start engaging with externals to convey a state perspective on their operations.
Thoughts shared publicly by Ms Aidrus so far reek of short-sightedness. One wonders whether these 'concerns' or 'pillars' were finalised after detailed discussions with all stakeholders or was it a rushed draft to buy time?
Coming from an academic and professional background in the US, it would befit Ms Aidrus to favour the State of Pak by acting as OUR advocate with externals and solidify our credentials through multistakeholder discussions. One mind's 'ideas' on a colourful slide won't suffice.
It is understandable that 'Cyber Security' or 'Data Security' is not Ms Aidrus' exclusive mandate. She has been tasked with broader aspects of national digitalisation in which 'security' is a key component.
Ramsha Jahangir rightly points out that "there is lacklustre progress in terms of launching an e-commerce and data protection policy".
A robust data protection regime and strict compliance framework might slow down the digitalisation process but in the long run, its benefits will prove immensely beneficial for national security as well as commercial interests.
I've tagged Ms Aidrus in earlier tweets sharing my comments as a citizen but perhaps they were not considered meritorious enough for a response.
I hope that positive criticism and comments are taken into account before crystallising any policy [End]
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