ISLAMABAD:
Federal IT and Telecom Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja informed the Senate that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has blocked 5,175 websites hosting Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), intensifying efforts to safeguard minors in the digital space.
The minister said the websites were traced and identified through the Interpol desk of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency. Acting under Section 37 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, PTA has also removed or restricted access to more than one million URLs containing indecent and immoral content accessible within Pakistan.
Responding to concerns raised by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri during a Senate session, Khawaja acknowledged that no comprehensive study has been conducted over the past three years to assess the impact of social media on children, including mental health risks and exposure to online exploitation. However, she emphasized that multiple regulatory, enforcement, and awareness initiatives are underway to mitigate digital threats.
The minister noted that while social media platforms operate in Pakistan under PECA, administrative oversight has recently shifted to the Ministry of Interior. She clarified that age verification mechanisms, registration controls, and parental monitoring tools are managed by the platforms under their global policies, while PTA ensures compliance, regulatory enforcement, and digital safety advocacy.
Beyond enforcement measures, PTA has expanded awareness campaigns nationwide. In collaboration with UNICEF Pakistan, Telenor Pakistan, and the National Commission on the Rights of the Child, the regulator published a guidebook titled “Safeguarding Your Child in the Digital Age.”
A nationwide toll-free helpline, 1121, has also been launched to report incidents of child abuse.
Additionally, PTA conducted a countrywide “Train the Trainer” initiative, preparing master facilitators who later organized sessions in 100 government schools, reaching over 12,500 parents, teachers, and students. Memorandums of understanding have also been signed with key stakeholders, including TikTok, GSMA, and the Higher Education Commission, to strengthen safe internet practices for children.
Through a combination of regulatory enforcement and public awareness, authorities aim to curb minors’ exposure to harmful online content while tightening compliance standards across digital platforms operating in Pakistan.
