On Thursday, PTA Chairman Hafeezur Rehman stated that the authority is ready to lift the ban on X, formerly Twitter, as soon as the government requests it.
The platform has been banned in Pakistan since February 17 due to national security issues, but it can still be accessed via Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).
At a Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat meeting in Islamabad, PTA Chairman Hafeezur Rehman clarified that the authority blocks social media platforms only at the government’s request.
He also stated that X’s compliance with Pakistani regulations has been minimal, addressing just 7% of complaints over the past three months. Rehman observed a major 70% decline in X’s usage in Pakistan, despite the availability of VPNs.
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Rehman added that only approved VPNs would be permitted through a whitelisting process, restricting public access to certain services.
On internet access and digital infrastructure, he revealed that approximately 56% of Pakistan’s population currently has internet connectivity.
Rehman also highlighted upcoming plans for a 5G auction, set to take place between March and April next year. Meanwhile, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar discussed ongoing negotiations with international platforms such as Facebook and Instagram regarding taxation on social media earnings.
