First committee meeting on Oct 5

The maiden meeting of a committee formed to draft e-commerce law will be held on October 5.

The Commerce Ministry on Thursday issued a notice to the committee members regarding this. The organisations concerned have also been requested to send representatives. The meeting will be chaired by AHM Safiquzzaman, convener and additional secretary of the committee.

The committee for drafting the law will function in four areas. It will make recommendations for the resolution of issues in the digital commerce sector within the next 15 days.

Besides, the committee will have to formulate a draft law to help properly operate and control the sector within the next two months. It will also have to design the structure and framework of a strong regulatory body for the e-commerce sector of the country within the same time frame.

The Commerce Ministry formed two committees to take steps for drafting a new law and establish an authority to protect the e-commerce sector and restore order. Both committees, consisting of 16 members each, were formed on Monday. 

The technical committee will provide recommendations to the commerce ministry about the sector from time to time. It will also hold meetings once a month. However, the committee has been given the authority to co-opt any official from any ministry as a member, if needed.

Deputy Secretary (Central Digital Commerce Cell) of the Ministry of Commerce Muhammad Saeed Ali is the Member Secretary of the Committee.