Pakistan’s E-Commerce Policy: Legal Challenges and the Need for Reform

Abstract

Abstract

The proliferation of e-commerce has revolutionized global trade, dissolving traditional market boundaries and introducing unprecedented legal complexities. This paper explores the multifaceted legal challenges arising from the digitalization of commerce, particularly in areas such as jurisdiction, online contract enforcement, digital authentication, data protection, and consumer rights. Existing legal frameworks, originally designed for physical transactions, often fall short in addressing the nuanced realities of virtual marketplaces. The absence of comprehensive e-commerce legislation in many jurisdictions has further exacerbated legal uncertainty, especially in relation to electronic signatures, intermediary liability, and online dispute resolution mechanisms. This study emphasizes the dual role of law in this digital era—as both reactive to emerging issues and anticipatory in crafting forward-looking regulatory solutions. It underscores the need for legal systems to evolve in step with technological advancements by incorporating agile, inclusive, and ethically informed norms. In doing so, it highlights the imperative for national, regional, and international legal harmonization to ensure that digital trade fosters innovation, safeguards consumer and privacy rights, and promotes equitable access across all segments of society.