The data we don't own |
It's 2026, and if you listen to the digital discourse in Islamabad or Karachi, you would think that we have finally cracked the code. We are a nation of 120 million internet users. We are the world's buzzing hive for freelancers. We have just launched our first National AI Policy, complete with dreams of smart cities and automated governance.
But look closer at the "Digital Pakistan" we're building.
Despite the apps, the hype and the 5G towers, the Pakistani citizen in 2026 is still a digital ghost – someone who generates immense value but owns none of it. We are living through a massive, silent contradiction. We are sprinting towards an AI-driven future while standing in a legal vacuum where the word "privacy" has no teeth.
Think about your digital footprint over the last 24 hours. You booked a ride, ordered biryani on an app, swiped your card........