The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has blocked harmful online content as part of its mandate under cybercrime laws, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister for IT and Telecom, informed the Senate of Pakistan in a written reply.
On enforcement, the minister revealed that PTA, using its powers under Section 37 of PECA, has blocked or removed more than one million URLs containing immoral and indecent content accessible in Pakistan. In addition, PTA has blocked 5,175 websites hosting Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), identified through the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency’s Interpol desk. These actions aim to prevent exploitation and reduce children’s exposure to harmful digital material.
Responding to a question raised by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, the minister stated that the government has not carried out a comprehensive assessment over the past three years to measure the harmful impact of social media use on children, including mental health risks and exposure to online abuse. However, she detailed several regulatory, awareness, and enforcement measures taken to protect minors online.
The minister explained that social media platforms in Pakistan operate under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016, although administrative oversight of the law has now been shifted to the Ministry of Interior. She added that while no nationwide impact study has been conducted, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) and PTA have introduced multiple initiatives to reduce risks linked to children’s online activity.
Alongside enforcement, PTA has rolled out several awareness and capacity-building programmes. A guidebook titled “Safeguarding Your Child in Digital Age” was published in collaboration with UNICEF Pakistan, Telenor Pakistan, and the National Commission on the Rights of Child. A nationwide toll-free child protection helpline, 1121, has also been set up to report child abuse cases.
The minister further noted that PTA conducted a nationwide “Train the Trainer” programme, developed master trainers and facilitators, and held sessions in 100 government schools. These sessions benefited more than 12,500 parents, teachers, and students. PTA has also signed memorandums of understanding with stakeholders including UNICEF Pakistan, TikTok, GSMA, and the Higher Education Commission to promote safer internet practices.
She clarified that age verification systems, account registration controls, and parental control features are developed and enforced by social media platforms themselves, in line with their internal policies and global standards. PTA does not directly manage these systems but continues to focus on awareness, regulatory compliance, and enforcement to ensure a safer online environment for children in Pakistan.
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