A meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecom was held to discuss the Digital Media Bill 2025, aimed at preventing obscenity and indecent content on digital platforms.
The bill was presented by Member of the National Assembly Shahida Rehmani.
Federal Minister for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima briefed the committee and said that children today receive information through social media and are exposed to all kinds of content. She stated that this issue is not limited to Pakistan but exists globally.
She said the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA) is a newly established institution and currently faces some challenges. She added that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) remains in contact with social media companies to address these issues.
Shaza Fatima informed the committee that Google has started manufacturing Chromebooks in Pakistan and is also opening an office in the country. She said the need for business offices of large companies in different countries is decreasing.
Referring to the ban on X, the minister said allegations were made that it restricted freedom of expression, adding that even today, less than two percent of Pakistani users are on X. She said Meta and other companies visit Pakistan twice every year and that Meta, in collaboration with Pakistan, has established the country’s first complaint portal.
She emphasized that the absence of company offices does not mean global companies are not complying with local laws. She said part of the objective of Shahida Rehmani’s bill would be achieved through the Data Protection Bill, while some amendments would be included in the NCCIA framework. She added that it is also better for international companies to have a single platform for compliance.
Following the federal minister’s assurance, Shahida Rehmani withdrew the bill.
The committee chairman said the performance of the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency remains questionable.
