The Upper House has passed the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Amendment) Bill 2025 after its earlier approval by the National Assembly. The bill will now be sent to the President for final approval after which it will become law.
The amended act will create a Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority to oversee everything about social media platforms in Pakistan. The authority will operate from its head office in Islamabad with additional offices in provincial capitals.
The authority will ensure the protection and rights of social media users, registering and canceling the registration of platforms, setting operational standards, and taking disciplinary action for violations of the PECA Act. It will also be empowered to issue removal instructions for illegal content on social media.
The authority will consist of nine members, including the Secretary of Interior, Chairman PTA, and Chairman PEMRA as ex-officio members. A chairman with at least a bachelor’s degree and 15 years of relevant experience will lead the authority alongside five members appointed for five-year terms.
The government has also decided to include a journalist, a software engineer, a lawyer, a social media professional, and an IT expert from the private sector in the authority.