Islamabad, 28 Apr, 2025: Pakistan’s Shariah Compliance efforts must evolve beyond traditional banking reforms to address modern challenges such as digital piracy, experts have warned.
While eliminating interest (riba) remains central to Islamic governance, other unethical practices like the theft of intellectual property, which mirrors the Islamic prohibition of ghasab (usurping others’ rights), must also be confronted with equal seriousness.
Commentators believe that policymakers, religious scholars, and civil society must extend the dialogue on Shariah-compliant governance to include digital ethics.
Addressing piracy, they argue, requires the same institutional commitment that has been devoted to banning interest-based financial systems.
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The aspiration to shape a fully Shariah-compliant state persists even as Pakistan navigates political and economic fluctuations.
Raihan Ali Merchant, chairman of Z2C Limited, indicated that while the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) moves to block culturally inappropriate content, the responsibility to combat piracy is left largely to PEMRA.
Without collaborative enforcement, he warned, Pakistan would remain indecisive between religious ideals and practical realities.
Analysts have pointed out that Pakistan’s Shariah Compliance vision demands alignment across all sectors legal, economic, cultural, and digital.
Failure to address the contradictions in policy could jeopardize not only ethical goals but also international relations.
Given that a major portion of Pakistan’s exports and tax revenue ties back to multinational corporations, especially from the United States, ignoring intellectual property rights may invite serious consequences.
The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has repeatedly criticized Pakistan’s weak enforcement of IP laws over the past decade.
The upcoming 2025 Special 301 Report is anticipated to be especially critical, following revelations by investigative journalists about widespread piracy involving Pakistani ISPs and telecom firms.
Legal experts, including Sarah Iqbal of Akhund Forbes, have advocated for comprehensive reforms.
She emphasized in a recent paper that Pakistan needs clearer laws addressing digital piracy, streamlined intellectual property registration processes, and specialized training for law enforcement.
Industry professionals concede that although Pakistan has ratified international agreements like the Berne Convention, enforcement remains sporadic.
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Hamza Nizam Kazi, a corporate lawyer, noted that high consumer demand often drives cable operators to broadcast pirated material.
Ultimately, if Pakistan genuinely aspires to fulfill its Shariah Compliance commitments, it must resolve these ethical inconsistencies.
Moral leadership cannot be claimed while turning a blind eye to digital theft, which undermines both cultural values and international credibility.
