The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is prepared to lift the ban on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, contingent upon directives from the government.
PTA Chairman Hafeezur Rehman shared this update during a Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat meeting, chaired by Rana Mahmoodul Hasan, in Islamabad on Thursday.
The government suspended X in Pakistan on February 17, citing national security concerns. However, the platform remains accessible through virtual private networks (VPNs). The ban has since been contested through multiple petitions in the Sindh High Court (SHC), challenging both the restriction on X and the intermittent suspension of internet services.
Last month, the federal government defended the ban in a submission to the SHC, deeming it a necessary measure for national security. The issue resurfaced in the Senate committee meeting when Senator Abdul Qadir inquired about the potential removal of the ban. Rehman assured, “We will remove the ban on X on the day that the government asks us to.”
Rehman revealed that only 7 percent of the complaints forwarded to X in the past three months have been addressed, indicating a low compliance rate compared to other platforms. He emphasized that the PTA blocks social media sites solely based on government requests and actively contacts platforms to address complaints that violate Pakistani law.
Regarding VPN usage, Rehman noted a 70 percent decrease in X’s usage despite VPN accessibility. “Only 30% of people are using VPNs,” he remarked, adding that VPNs can also be blocked. The PTA is in the process of allow listing specific VPNs, which will limit the availability of VPN services in Pakistan.
Rehman also shared that around 56 percent of Pakistan’s population has internet access, and the country is gearing up for a 5G auction expected in March-April next year. On the topic of taxation for content creators earning through international advertisements, Rehman acknowledged the absence of current legislation in this regard.
The lifting of the ban on X remains a highly anticipated decision, with the PTA ready to act upon the government’s instructions, aiming to balance national security and digital freedom.