A bill on social media regulation, presented by Member of the National Assembly Shahida Rehmani, was withdrawn after Federal Minister for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima briefed the parliamentary committee.
Shaza Fatima highlighted that children in Pakistan today access information through social media and are exposed to all kinds of content. She emphasized that this challenge is global and not limited to Pakistan alone.
The minister noted that the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA) is newly established and currently faces operational challenges. She added that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) regularly coordinates with social media companies to manage content-related issues effectively.
Shaza Fatima also shared that Google has started manufacturing Chromebooks in Pakistan and is opening an office in the country. She said the need for physical offices of large companies is decreasing globally due to digital operations.
Regarding the ban on X, the minister said concerns about restricting freedom of expression were exaggerated. She added that less than two percent of Pakistani users are on the platform. Shaza Fatima also noted that Meta and other companies visit Pakistan twice a year. Meta has established the country’s first complaint portal in collaboration with local authorities.
The minister stressed that the absence of company offices in Pakistan does not mean international companies are ignoring local laws. She said that part of Shahida Rehmani’s bill would be addressed through the Data Protection Bill, while some amendments would be added to the NCCIA framework. She emphasized that a single compliance platform is better for global companies.
Following the minister’s assurances, Shahida Rehmani withdrew the bill. The committee chairman, however, raised concerns about the performance of the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency, saying it remains questionable.
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Officials said that Pakistan’s efforts to regulate digital content focus on balancing freedom of expression with child safety and legal compliance. The government continues to strengthen institutional frameworks to ensure responsible social media use in the country.
