The government is exploring the creation of an independent data authority to modernize National ID (NID) services, mirroring international best practices.
"But for now, the idea remains in the conceptual stage," said Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, special assistant to the chief adviser at the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and ICT.
Speaking at a press conference at the ICT Building in Agargaon on Wednesday, he acknowledged that until such an authority is formed, the NID system will remain under the jurisdiction of the Election Commission.
The move, he argued, is aimed at ensuring that citizen data is not concentrated under any single ministry.
Instead, a standalone data authority would allow various government agencies to access information as needed while reducing bureaucratic red tape and minimizing public inconvenience, he added.
Taiyeb sought to dispel concerns within the Election Commission, assuring that an independent data authority would not strip it of power but rather strengthen its capacity.
However, he stopped short of offering a definitive timeline for when the proposed authority might become a reality.
