The government of Pakistan is set to table a Digital Bill in Parliament aimed at bringing stricter regulation to the e-commerce and digital marketing sector. Officials say the legislation will focus on consumer protection, transparency, and fair competition in online trade.
The proposed law will cover rules for truth-in-advertising, mandatory registration for influencers and marketing agencies, data privacy safeguards, and a ban on deceptive marketing practices. It also seeks to tackle misleading ads, fraudulent deliveries, and predatory lending through mobile apps.
This comes after the FY26 budget introduced an 18% GST on online goods and services, higher taxes for non-filers, and compliance requirements for banks and payment intermediaries, which must store and share customer data with the Federal Board of Revenue every quarter. Courier companies will also face penalties for failing to comply with delivery data requirements.
The move follows the Competition Commission of Pakistan’s probe into Chinese platform Temu over alleged anti-competitive practices, after complaints from local retailers. The Pakistan eCommerce Association has urged the government to lower taxes on digital businesses, warning that current policies are hurting small enterprises and female entrepreneurs while favouring foreign platforms.
