Pakistan’s top telecom regulator has acknowledged a critical gap in its digital governance framework. Hafeezur Rehman, Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), told lawmakers this week that while the authority can suspend access to entire platforms like Facebook or X, it lacks the advanced systems required to block or remove specific online content.
Addressing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, Rehman detailed the current limitations. “Only countries like the United States and Israel have systems in place that allow precise filtering of online material. We have to work through platform providers,” he explained.
Rehman confirmed that 80% of flagged defamatory content is typically removed via coordination with social media companies. He also noted that a delegation from Meta is currently embedded within the PTA offices to strengthen these efforts. Despite these collaborations, the gap between Pakistani laws and international content guidelines continues to pose regulatory challenges.
The PTA chief also spotlighted the widespread use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) in Pakistan. “Over 40 VPNs are actively used, which lets users bypass all our restrictions,” he said.
A cybercrime briefing was also delivered by the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), which reported 554 arrests tied to defamatory or harmful online content. While 349 complaints have been officially registered, just a dozen convictions have been secured.
Former Minister Ali Muhammad Khan took issue with TikTok in particular, claiming the app frequently displays content unsuitable for families. “Where is the PTA’s oversight?” he asked, urging swift action against nudity and obscene material circulating on the platform.
In response, PTA officials reiterated that while they can pursue local violators, enforcement becomes difficult when harmful content is uploaded from foreign jurisdictions.
Lawmakers concluded the session by calling on the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to present a comprehensive update on financial crimes, hinting at an expanding regulatory focus beyond online content to include digital finance and cyber fraud.
