Pakistan’s New Social Media Regulator Still Has No Budget or Office

Pakistan’s Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority (SMPRA) has yet to begin operations despite the appointment of its chairman and board members, as the government has not allocated a budget for the newly created regulator.

Officials told ProPakistani that the authority also lacks an office, staff, and an operational secretariat, preventing it from carrying out its responsibilities.

According to officials, SMPRA has requested funds from the Ministry of Finance to cover its operational expenses. They said budget approval is necessary to recruit employees, establish a secretariat, and launch day-to-day operations. The authority is also finalizing its rules and regulations and will become operational once the required financial and administrative arrangements are completed.

The tribunal that will function alongside SMPRA has also not yet been established. Officials said both the authority and the tribunal remain in the implementation phase, with administrative and legal procedures still underway before the regulator can exercise its powers.

SMPRA was created under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (PECA) Amendment Act 2025, which Parliament passed in January 2025.

The federal government formally constituted the authority in March 2026 by appointing Islamabad Advocate General Ayaz Shaukat as chairman along with other board members. The regulator has been tasked with overseeing social media platforms operating in Pakistan, including Facebook, YouTube, X, Instagram, and TikTok.

Under the law, SMPRA will monitor online content, protect users from cyberbullying, online harassment, and digital fraud, and require both local and foreign social media companies to register with the authority.

It will also be empowered to order the removal of illegal or harmful content, direct platforms to remove objectionable material within 24 to 48 hours, impose fines of up to Rs. 500 million for violations, and recommend blocking platforms that repeatedly fail to comply with Pakistan’s laws. Officials said the authority will begin exercising these powers once its regulatory framework and operational infrastructure are in place.