Internet freedom in Pakistan

The interior ministry has decided to “temporarily suspend mobile services” tomorrow in parts of Islamabad and Rawalpindi on account of Pakistan Day (March 23rd)

Sources told ARY News that the ministry has taken the decision in light of the “deteriorating security situation”.

The mobile services will be temporarily suspended in the areas adjacent to the parade ground in Shakar Parian and some parts of Rawalpindi. “Phone services will remain suspended from 6am to 2pm,” sources claimed.



ARY News
LoL. This is a joke and has been a norm in Pakistan now. Banana republic proved.
 
To support Pakistan's digital rise, the country should reconsider its decision and lift the ban on Twitter immediately.
 
To support Pakistan's digital rise, the country should reconsider its decision and lift the ban on Twitter immediately.
China is a digital behemoth they don't have twitter .
One app that too X doesn’t make a difference.

If google , Linkedin or cloud services were banned that would be a whole lot different.
Even Insta is more useful than X.
 
For 38 days now X (Twitter) remains blocked in Pakistan.
Nothing illustrates the pathetic, incompetent clowns more than banning twitter and then personally using VPNs to post on it. Surely this level of stupidity can't continue or maybe it can.
 
To support Pakistan's digital rise, the country should reconsider its decision and lift the ban on Twitter immediately.
Ban the govt is claiming its not stopped or banned. Munshi said it was just a little slow🤔🤔, how dare you accuse the clown of lying
 
Ban the govt is claiming its not stopped or banned. Munshi said it was just a little slow🤔🤔, how dare you accuse the clown of lying
Why would they tell the truth when the whole game is being played for them so they can avoid being exposed in front of the public.

We r not living the democracy its more like a marshall law.
 
Elon Musk must be crying somewhere :ROFLMAO:
=====

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) summoned on Wednesday the interior secretary on April 17 over the closure of the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) suspension.

Chief Justice (IHC) Aamer Farooq expressed displeasure with the report submitted by the interior ministry on the issue during the hearing.

The joint secretary of interior appeared before court today and informed that X had been closed following a report from the security agencies.

Expressing his displeasure, the judge reminded the secretary that the ministry was to submit it in writing. "What is this attitude? You did not bring any file or any document."

Justice Farooq added that there will be no verbal conversation and everything should be in writing.

The joint secretary informed CJ that there was a threat to the country's security. “I did not ask you to give a speech, give me the reasons, I can talk more than you, my secretary will make a better report than this, I will not listen in this manner," said the judge.

“The report states that content against national security is uploaded and therefore X is blocked,” the joint secretary replied.

CJ stated that there must be some evidence or X was suspended on the basis of an Intelligence Bureau (IB) report, adding that there are no reasons mentioned in the report.

The court summoned the interior secretary and sought other court decisions on the matter, stating “Let's see which court decides first, let's see if the cases are pending in other courts, then who hears it first”.

The court further sought reasons and evidence related to any threat in writing and summoned the interior secretary in person at the next hearing scheduled for April 17. The hearing was then adjourned.

Earlier the IHC also issued notices to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and Ministry of Information on a petition challenging the suspension of X.

The platform was blocked soon after the then Rawalpindi commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha accused the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa of engaging in 'rigging,' a charge refuted by both the electoral watchdog and the Chief Justice. The social media app had earlier been suspended during the run-up to the February 8 polls.

The petition named the information ministry and the PTA as respondents. IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq heard the plea and inquired if the social media platform was still suspended in the country.

The petition further said the undeclared suspension of the social media platform violates Article 19 of the Constitution and prayed to the court to issue directives to the respondents for the immediate lifting of the ban.

Source: The Express Tribune
 
Day 52: The popular social media app X (Twitter) remains blocked in Pakistan.
 
The cat is out of the bag and makes no difference. The irony of these idiots using VPNs to get around their own band isn't lost anyone. Apparently the plan is for the shiit show to go on for the next 10 years
 
Still trying to understand what the hell they are achieving by banning X in Pakistan when everyone is still using with VPNs.

Your mistake is assuming that these fascists employ rationality in their decision-making process. It's more likely that they're either too stubborn to reverse the ban or fear public backlash, a common trait among unelected authoritarian regimes.
 
Your mistake is assuming that these fascists employ rationality in their decision-making process. It's more likely that they're either too stubborn to reverse the ban or fear public backlash, a common trait among unelected authoritarian regimes.
Public backlash would be even stronger now which the authorities already know about. PTI is also going for the protest so at this point in time they won't lift the ban for sure.
 
Pakistan High Court Orders Government To Restore X Within 1 Week

A Pakistan High Court on Wednesday said the government must restore social media platform X within one week, a lawyer said, after more than two months of disruption ordered by the interior ministry.

The platform, formerly known as Twitter, has been rarely accessible since February 17, when jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's party called for protests against a government official's admission of vote manipulation in February's election.

Pakistan's communications authority later admitted in court papers that it was ordered by the Interior Ministry to shut down the site.

"The Sindh High Court has given the government one week to withdraw the letter, failing which, on the next date, they will pass appropriate orders," Moiz Jaaferi, a lawyer challenging the ban, told AFP.

 

The Real Reason Why X Has Been Banned by The Interior Ministry​


The Interior Ministry has presented a comprehensive report to the Islamabad High Court regarding the blockage of social media platform X.

The report sheds light on the legal and factual discrepancies in the application opposing the blockage of X, emphasizing that X is not registered in Pakistan and does not adhere to Pakistani laws.

This lack of compliance with government regulations has necessitated the imposition of restrictions to safeguard national security.

According to the report, the primary objective behind the ban on X is to prevent its misuse as a platform for disseminating extremist ideologies and false information, rather than impeding freedom of expression. The Ministry’s decision to take action against X is rooted in its commitment to protecting citizens and ensuring national security.

Furthermore, the report reveals that X’s non-compliance with Pakistani laws led to its blockage. The Federal Investigation Agency’s cyber crimes wing had requested X to block accounts involved in spreading misleading propaganda against the Chief Justice of Pakistan, a request that went unanswered by X.

According to the report, recent development comes in the wake of the government’s efforts to regulate social media platforms, with agreements in place to uphold Pakistani laws. The ban on X aligns with security considerations and is not in violation of constitutional rights.

In response to the court, the Interior Ministry has clarified that the request to block X does not infringe upon fundamental rights and can be dismissed in the initial stages.

The Ministry’s stance underscores that the ban on X aims to promote responsible use of social media platforms in compliance with the law, reinforcing its dedication to safeguarding citizens’ rights and national security. This decisive action against X marks a significant step towards achieving these crucial objectives.

 
The Interior Ministry laying it out Pakistani High Courts boundaries pretty clearly there. Their job is to rubber stamp the establishment, not worry about individual freedom.
 
Over 17 political trends on ‘X’ flagged ‘sensitive’

More than 17 political trends on the microblogging platform X (formerly known as Twitter) have been flagged as sensitive, authorities revealed on Wednesday.

According to officials from the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), a report has been compiled following three months of meticulous monitoring of social media activities, particularly focusing on trends that could potentially incite riots or promote extremist ideologies, including "terrorism and communalism."

The findings of the report shed light on how political trends often targeted crucial events such as general elections and national security institutions, hinting at a concerning trend of online agitation and misinformation campaigns.

Moreover, the report highlighted that a major portion of the anti-national rhetoric observed on social media originated from individuals residing abroad.

Punjab police and prominent figures were reportedly subjected to undue criticism within these trending topics, with nine trends identified as having communal undertones.

Similarly, ten trends were monitored relating to nationalism, with specific mentions of Balochistan and Gwadar.

In response to these revelations, officials from the CTD have vowed to take decisive action against individuals found to be instigating unrest through social media platforms. As part of their efforts, the CTD has already taken measures to block 2,836 pages and websites deemed to be contributing to the propagation of discord online.

Furthermore, authorities have identified two new organisations that have been actively involved in disseminating content through social media channels.


Tribune
 
X working with Pakistan govt to ‘understand concerns’ over ban

Social media platform X said Thursday it would work with Pakistan’s government “to understand its concerns” after authorities said an ongoing two-month ban was based on security grounds.

“We continue to work with the Pakistani Government to understand their concerns,” X’s Global Government Affairs team posted, in their first comments since the site was disrupted.

The platform, formerly known as Twitter, has been rarely accessible since February 17, when the PTI called for protests following a government official’s admission of vote manipulation in the February election.

The Interior Ministry on Wednesday said X was blocked on security grounds, according to a report submitted to the Islamabad High Court where one of several challenges to the ban is being heard.

On the same day, the Sindh High Court ordered the government to restore access to social media platform X within a week.

“The Sindh High Court has given the government one week to withdraw the letter, failing which, on the next date, they will pass appropriate orders,” Moiz Jaaferi, a lawyer challenging the ban, told AFP.

The court’s decision is expected to be published this week.

 
Does X really care about the concerns of Pakistan's government? I don't think so
 

X Ban is in The “Best Interests of Pakistan”: Ishaq Dar​


According to a report by VOA, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has defended the government’s decision to restrict access to the social media platform X, previously known as Twitter. Dar asserted that it falls within the “best interests of Pakistan” to undertake measures deemed beneficial for the country’s welfare.

Dar compared X’s restriction in Pakistan with TikTok’s situation in the US, as the country is threatening to ban the viral social media app unless it cuts ties with its Chinese parent company. The US justifies this move by citing data security concerns, claiming that TikTok is stealing private American data.

The Foreign Minister said:

May I ask those countries that they also have put [a] ban on certain apps … so, one country is OK, and Twitter banned in Pakistan is not OK? Surely, the country will take its own decision in the light of different reasons, which were the basis of — you know — putting it off [suspending it].

The Sindh High Court issued a directive on Wednesday, granting the government a one-week ultimatum to lift the ban. The ban, purportedly imposed by the interior ministry in the name of national security, public order, and the nation’s integrity, faced scrutiny from the judiciary.

Notably, the court highlighted the absence of reasons provided by the ministry for the platform’s blockade and its failure to adhere to established protocols for restricting harmful online content.

 
‘Over half of Pakistan does not have access to internet’

Over half of the country’s population does not have access to internet, but districts that perform better on digital transformation are also among the better performing areas in terms of human development, reveals the first-ever Digital Development Index (DDI) report, released on Tuesday.

Prepared in the collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the report is part of the National Human Development Report 2024, which was launched by Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal.

The report placed the country in the ‘moderate’ category in terms of digital development and noted that women are underserved by digital development and 83.5pc of whom claimed their spouse or parents dictate their phone ownership.

According to the report, digital development in Pakistan’s richest quintile was 15-fold greater than the poorest quintile, meaning that wealth is a huge marker of the digital development.

Islamabad is the district with ‘very high’ digital development, followed by Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Haripur and Abbottabad in the ‘high’ category.

It showed a strong correlation between districts that perform better on digital transformation and those having the higher human development outcomes.

The country has a low Human Development Index rank of 164 out of 193 countries, coupled with a Gender Inequality Index position of 135 out of 166 countries.

The digital divides further exacerbate poor development outcomes, the report noted.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Iqbal claimed the government was committed to harnessing the benefits of technological innovation to improve livelihood prospects, accelerate financial inclusion, improve employment, and deliver efficient public services.

Recognizing digital access as a fundamental necessity in the modern era, akin to essential services like electricity, healthcare, and education, the minister stressed the government’s responsibility to bridge the digital divide across all regions.

UNDP Assistant Administrator and Regional Director Regional for Asia and the Pacific Kanni Wignaraja said that over 60pc of the population in Asia-Pacific was online, with women and marginalised groups being significantly underrepresented.

“Pakistan is the sixth largest contributor to the global middle-class growth between 2022 to 2030, contributing 25 million,” she said.

“Targeted digital transformation efforts for this growing middle class could greatly improve the country’s productivity,” she said.

UNDP Pakistan Resident Representative Dr Samuel Rizk said: “Our ambition is to contribute to a future-oriented Pakistan where digital transformation becomes a hallmark of its inclusion, and a cornerstone for its prosperity”.

The report highlighted that over half of Pakistan does not have access to internet because of inadequate digital infrastructure and affordability challenges and nearly half of the country’s districts have low DDI rankings. Without

equitable access to digital technology, the report noted, Pakistan’s human development outcomes will remain low and under-served.

SOURCE: DAWN
 
world is moving forward in the digital age and here in Pakistan we are unable to provide basic internet facilities.
 
Internet freedom isn’t a problem in any city of Pakistan because you can access restricted websites and apps through VPNs.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I work in the network and security industry and every country has restrictions even at a network backbone level.

Amreeka has given Bytedance 9 months to divulge the TikTok app, or face being blocked in the land of the - cough cough - free.

In the UK there is content level filtering applied too, both at the edge (Your home ISP) or regional. Most for checks but some to simply block, like Russia RT.com. Europe same story.

They all do it! Governments including the West, all police the Internet.

Personally I am all for blocking out internet services in emergencies, it does prevent panic, you know, BEFORE the internet, we didn't even have mobile phones.
 
You are right , there is nothing like being a first class citizen in your own country, and I have experienced it, I lived in Pakistan for 3 consecutive years. Amazing years.

The difference is you despise Pakistan while being a 1st class citizen living in your own country.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Another bad news for Pakistanis
====
Fiber optic cable cuts cause internet woes for Pakistani users

PTA sources claim that Pakistani users will continue to face difficulties during the evening hours.

The fiber optic cable connecting Singapore to Pakistan and Europe has been cut.

According to sources, the submarine optical fiber cable has suffered five cuts, and it will take a month to fix it.

According to Pakistan Telecommunication (PTA) sources, internet service from the eastern direction has been affected due to the cutting of the optical fiber cable. Pakistani users are facing severe difficulties in browsing the Internet.

PTA sources claim that Pakistani users will continue to face difficulties during the evening hours.

Meanwhile, PTCL sources mention that traffic coming from the eastern direction is less than 10 percent, and hence internet traffic has been shifted to alternative sources.

Source: Samaa News
 
Internet freedom isn’t a problem in any city of Pakistan because you can access restricted websites and apps through VPNs.
I think even serfs had more rights than and thats because thats the life You have chosen.. You aren't even allowed to demonstrate against the Israelis atrocities in Palestine ,you can't utter a word against Munir, Isa, the Police Chief, or The ECP chief 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
 
Last edited by a moderator:
world is moving forward in the digital age and here in Pakistan we are unable to provide basic internet facilities.
Munir and Co have lost the country. This is the equivalent of putting your hands on your ears and going nah nah nah. The World moves on and develops and we have total buffoon that thinks he lives in the 1990s.
 
The richest pakistani to ever exist shahid Khan, he's worth 12B, is the founder of aew and flex n Gate, 2 American companies.

Another person also richer then Mia mansha is anwar pervez the UK owner of flex n Gate.

Theirs no such thing as first class or 2nd class citizens.

Pakistani people are really just Indians, aka their blood is Indian the ancestory is Indian but they separated due to religious and political conflicts and adopted their own nation and identity. In the same way Bangladeshi people are pakistani but separated.

USA, itself isn't even native. USA locals are red Indians yet the country is run by a mix of people from various desents that became American.

As for the whole education thing. I am doing and completing masters this year, my parents have masters and PHD too, my own friend is doing it.

Theirs nothing wrong with moving, your country of origin have no impact or value on your success nor does anyone from a developed country treat you any differently.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
As for the whole Internet freedom, vpn exists yes, but the fact that the government bans twitter, and banned youtube or other stuff for petty things shows how backwards the country is.

I get that you're religious and all, but then don't watch the content, Youtube and twitter have had various forms of education type content + their a huge help in the advertising sector. Banning it means the country is shooting itself in the foot cause many business will close and schools with have alot of khap on teaching standards.
 
Brilliant post.

The richest pakistani to ever exist shahid Khan, he's worth 12B, is the founder of aew and flex n Gate, 2 American companies.

BUT BUT

"he's not smart enough so he had to run away overseas to make it"

Another person also richer then Mia mansha is anwar pervez the UK owner of flex n Gate.

Theirs no such thing as first class or 2nd class citizens.

Pakistani people are really just Indians, aka their blood is Indian the ancestory is Indian but they separated due to religious and political conflicts and adopted their own nation and identity. In the same way Bangladeshi people are pakistani but separated.

USA, itself isn't even native. USA locals are red Indians yet the country is run by a mix of people from various desents that became American.

As for the whole education thing. I am doing and completing masters this year, my parents have masters and PHD too, my own friend is doing it

Exactly and even if my parents were non-educated, what's wrong with that? Someone has to start somewhere.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I have seen less ruffled feathers in a chicken shop on a rainy day. The truth hurts and it hits home. Let it out, you will feel better about your past.
 
Guys, Please, Do not discuss personal stuff here. No need to bring families into this thread. Stay on topic or please chose other options like not to post.
 
Govt establishes new investigation agency to deal with cybercrimes

Rendering the Federal Investigation Agency’s cybercrime wing as dysfunctional, the federal government has established a new institution to deal with Peca offences.

The new institution is named as National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).

The previous caretaker government approved the NCCIA in December last year under Section 51 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 (Peca).

The new agency would take over cybercrime investigations from the FIA.

Similarly, all personnel, assets, liabilities, rights, obligations, privileges, inquiries and investigations related to the FIA’s “defunct” Cybercrime Wing would be handed over to the NCCIA.

The NCCIA will be headed by a director-general who will be appointed by the Federal Government for a term of two years

The NCCIA Director General will exercise powers equivalent to those of an Inspector General of Police.


Dunya News
 
What does it mean? Is he trying to defend all this ban?

4YYVQh6.png
 
IHC directs registrar to approach ‘X’

The Islamabad High Court has directed the registrar office to approach the chief legal counsel of X Corporation to trace those involved in running a smear campaign against Justice Babar Sattar on social media.

The three-member larger bench comprising Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri and Justice Sardar Ishaq Khan released the written order of the contempt of court case hearing surrounding the defamation campaign on social media against IHC judge Babar Sattar and his family.

The court sought an emergency disclosure request sent by the FIA to X Corporation for tracing suspicious accounts. In addition, the court also ordered the FIA to conduct forensic investigation of the leakage of passport and other travel documents' details of the judge and his family from the passport office's database server.

The IHC bench stated that PTA, IB, DG Immigration, CTD, PEMRA and FBR had submitted their reports and ordered the experts, who prepared the reports, to give concise presentation at the next hearing.

As per FIA Cyber Crime Wing report, some accounts were identified who tweeted and re-tweeted posts. The report indicated that an organized smear campaign, consisting of three hash tags, was run against the judge. The court directed the Supreme Court's registrar office to make correspondence with the chief legal counsel of X Corporation and present the draft of the letter before the bench members in the chamber.

The court expressed dismay over the ISI report and said it was 'insufficient'. The ISI report said there could not be any progress due to dormant accounts. The court inquired if the ISI's stance will remain the same in case blasphemy allegations are leveled against the president and the army chief.

The court also inquired if ISI is capable of handling the fifth generation war and added that the court could not get answers of these questions.

SOURCE: EXPRESS TRIBUNE
 

Firewall being installed to rein in social media​


A national firewall is being installed on different internet service providers (ISPs) to rein in social media; the filters will block unwanted content from reaching a wider audience, The News has learned from four different sources.

A well-placed official confirmed when asked if the firewall had been purchased: “It is already bought. Now it is being installed and commissioned”. Pakistan is already using this technology but till now it had been limited to blocking websites and social media apps. In 2013, the filters of a Canada-based Netsweeper were installed on Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited, Pakistan’s largest internet service provider which constitutes more than 65 per cent share in submarine cables connecting Pakistan with the rest of the world.

The latest firewall will be used to inspect information originating from different internet protocol addresses. Per an official privy to the planning, “The national firewall will serve two purposes: identify the locations from where the propaganda material is being originated and the subsequent blockade or diminished coverage of those accounts”. He added: “But, I think the main focus will remain on locating the source of such propaganda to nip the evil in the bud”.

In the new setup, there will be a keyword filtering system to detect content the government considers undesirable or prejudicial to national security etc. In such cases, the filter will act like an information inspector. These kinds of posts will likely be camouflaged and will subsequently be made invisible to outside users. Posts from all dissenting voices in and out of the country are likely to pass through this inspection before they are allowed to be made properly visible.

This filter will run its check on social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube and X (formerly known as Twitter). Preparation is also in progress to prevent the ‘misuse’ of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) as the government can declare it mandatory for citizens to inform the PTA about the VPNs they are using. Anyone failing to do that could land in trouble.

With the government having blocked X/Twitter for several months now, many people have been accessing it through VPNs. Several of them were initially blocked, but that triggered unrest from the corporate community as VPNs are primarily used by big businesses worldwide to protect their business secrets as their internal communication travels within a private network. It was due to this that action against VPNs was stopped for some time.

Was X/Twitter’s blockade a prudent step as many people are still using it through VPNs? A government official has answered in the affirmative. He said the usage of this social media app has been cut to half -- from 4.5 million to 2.4 million -- which means it has also affected Twitter’s business in Pakistan as well. The use of bots has also been reduced. Not only that, an official said that the management of the social media company has also started paying heed to government demands, unlike the past.

One such demand was the blockade of an account of the Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Society (PESS). Maj (r) Adil Raja was using this account even after he was no longer an office-bearer of the PESS -- and refused to return control of the account. Not only that, he would tweet from this handle on behalf of the veterans and condemn the current army leadership. X (formerly Twitter) wouldn’t respond to requests generated through the PTA for a block on the account. It has been done now.

 

Firewall being installed to rein in social media​


A national firewall is being installed on different internet service providers (ISPs) to rein in social media; the filters will block unwanted content from reaching a wider audience, The News has learned from four different sources.

A well-placed official confirmed when asked if the firewall had been purchased: “It is already bought. Now it is being installed and commissioned”. Pakistan is already using this technology but till now it had been limited to blocking websites and social media apps. In 2013, the filters of a Canada-based Netsweeper were installed on Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited, Pakistan’s largest internet service provider which constitutes more than 65 per cent share in submarine cables connecting Pakistan with the rest of the world.

The latest firewall will be used to inspect information originating from different internet protocol addresses. Per an official privy to the planning, “The national firewall will serve two purposes: identify the locations from where the propaganda material is being originated and the subsequent blockade or diminished coverage of those accounts”. He added: “But, I think the main focus will remain on locating the source of such propaganda to nip the evil in the bud”.

In the new setup, there will be a keyword filtering system to detect content the government considers undesirable or prejudicial to national security etc. In such cases, the filter will act like an information inspector. These kinds of posts will likely be camouflaged and will subsequently be made invisible to outside users. Posts from all dissenting voices in and out of the country are likely to pass through this inspection before they are allowed to be made properly visible.

This filter will run its check on social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube and X (formerly known as Twitter). Preparation is also in progress to prevent the ‘misuse’ of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) as the government can declare it mandatory for citizens to inform the PTA about the VPNs they are using. Anyone failing to do that could land in trouble.

With the government having blocked X/Twitter for several months now, many people have been accessing it through VPNs. Several of them were initially blocked, but that triggered unrest from the corporate community as VPNs are primarily used by big businesses worldwide to protect their business secrets as their internal communication travels within a private network. It was due to this that action against VPNs was stopped for some time.

Was X/Twitter’s blockade a prudent step as many people are still using it through VPNs? A government official has answered in the affirmative. He said the usage of this social media app has been cut to half -- from 4.5 million to 2.4 million -- which means it has also affected Twitter’s business in Pakistan as well. The use of bots has also been reduced. Not only that, an official said that the management of the social media company has also started paying heed to government demands, unlike the past.

One such demand was the blockade of an account of the Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Society (PESS). Maj (r) Adil Raja was using this account even after he was no longer an office-bearer of the PESS -- and refused to return control of the account. Not only that, he would tweet from this handle on behalf of the veterans and condemn the current army leadership. X (formerly Twitter) wouldn’t respond to requests generated through the PTA for a block on the account. It has been done now.

There was a strong rumour in a few podcasts and articles that the Establishment and government was planning this.

It should send shivers down the spine of any Pakistani. The great Chinese firewall enables the Chinese government to use AI & similar technologies to spot any Social media or other semi-public posts and not only stop them before they're on the internet but also identify the poster. It allows them to really stifle dissent. While Pakistan is used to some media suppression, it's not used to this level of iron control.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Electronic media allowed to report court proceedings

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday allowed the electronic media to report court proceedings in line with the guidelines of the Supreme Court.

IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq heard the petitions of Islamabad High Court Journalists Association, Press Association of Supreme Court and PFUJ against the notification issued by PEMRA imposing a ban on court reporting.

High Court Bar President Ali Azad and Adil Aziz Qazi appeared before the court on behalf of the petitioners.

Urging the court to adjourn hearing without proceedings, the counsel for PEMRA said that the senior lawyer of the case was busy in the Supreme Court.

The court, however, observed that the electronic media could report proceedings as per the SC guidelines.

Subsequently, the court accepted the plea of PEMRA and adjourned the hearing till the first week of July

EXPRESS TRIBUNE
 
Submarine cable fault disrupts internet service in parts of Pakistan

Due to a fault in the global submarine cable, the internet service was affected in some parts of Pakistan, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

According to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), a malfunction has occurred in the international submarine cable SMW4, which is one of the seven cables connecting Pakistan to the globle through internet web.

Due to the malfunction, the users may experience slow internet service during peak hours.

Source: ARY News
 
ATC orders seizure of six social media influencers’ assets

An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad ordered on Tuesday the seizure of movable and immovable properties of YouTubers and journalists—including Adil Raja, Shaheen Sehbai, Moeed Pirzada, Sabir Shakir, Haider Mehdi, and Wajahat Saeed Khan—in the case of inciting violence and unrest.

ATC judge Tahir Abbas Sipra directed the Islamabad deputy commissioner to confiscate the assets of the accused YouTubers, who have been declared proclaimed offenders, in the case.

The court also ordered the National Database and Registration Authority chairman to block the accused persons’ national identity and National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis cards while directing the Federal Investigation Agency director general to block their passports.

The court has sought a compliance report on the implementation of the orders within 15 days. The statements of the prosecution witnesses against the accused have also been recorded.

This action comes amid an ongoing crackdown on individuals accused of spreading hate speech and inciting violence through digital platforms.

Furthermore, the ATC has directed all the relevant departments to submit a compliance report on the implementation of its orders by July 10.

It is notable that Adil Raja, Shaheen Sehbai, Moeed Pirzada, Sabir Shakir, Haider Mehdi, and Wajhat Saeed Khan are facing charges of incitement of violence and instigating people to resort to violence.


AAJ News
 
The surveillance system keeping tabs on millions

Telecom companies operating in Pakistan are running a mass surveillance system which “enables interception of data and records of telecom customers” without any regulatory mechanism or legal procedures, on the orders of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

This information came to light in an order of the Islamabad High Court in a case pertaining to the surveillance of citizens whose private phone conversations were recorded and subsequently released to social media. In the run-up to Feb 8 polls, several audio clips, including ex-PM Imran Khan’s and his spouse’s, were leaked on social media, prompting them to go to court.

According to the judgement, authored by Justice Babar Sattar, the court was told that telecom companies had been asked to “finance, import, and install” the Lawful Intercept Management System (LIMS) at a designated place (referred to as ‘surveillance centre’) for the use of designated agencies. The identity of these agencies, however, was not revealed to the court.

“From the surveillance centre, a designated agency initiates a track and trace request through the click of a button, in relation to any SIM or IMEI number or MSISBN identity belonging to a consumer… the request goes through the LIMS in an automated manner, which system is then connected with the network of telecom licensees.

“And without any human intervention, details of the SMS, call data reports and metadata are reported through a server into a monitoring centre established at the surveillance centre,” the order said, adding that through another server, the entire content of communication between the consumers undertaken through the network of the telecom licensee, including audio and video content and web page records, are shared with the monitoring centre,“ the judgement noted.

Likewise, the court was informed that the data of any consumer could be surveilled and retrieved, voice calls heard and reheard and SMSes read. According to the court order, telecom licensees are under an obligation to ensure that up to 2pc of their entire consumer base can be surveilled through LIMS.

“…a mass surveillance system through which 2pc of all telecom consumers in Pakistan can be surveyed without any judicial or executive oversight… A rough estimation reflects that at any given time over 4 million citizens…can be surveilled…,” the judgement noted.

‘Mass surveillance system’

Dawn reached out to several digital rights experts in light of these revelations who appeared concerned about the harmful impact of an unregulated mass surveillance system. “I don’t think this kind of information was available to anyone that to what extent digital surveillance was going on,” said Nighat Dad while speaking to Dawn about the extent of the surveillance.

“There are some instances when surveillance can be allowed, but it has to meet a certain threshold for these criteria — legitimate aim, necessity and proportionality, transparency, and oversight — and LIMS violates all of this,” she said, adding that strict enforcement of the Fair Trial Act was needed for such an action.

Haroon Baloch, who works at Bytes for All, described LIMS as “a mass surveillance system that sets for the state agencies a panoptic lens over the citizens to monitor and track their movements by means of digital interception for unlimited time frame”.

He said LIMS could monitor traffic data travelling through telecommunication networks which is unencrypted, such as IP addresses, websites accessed, and browsing history. It can also be used to listen/read through the content data which is unencrypted, such as mobile calls, SMS, MMS, or any communication application data which doesn’t offer end-to-end encryption of the content data, he warned.

Tech and digital rights journalist Ramsha Jahangir was particularly alarmed by the secrecy surrounding this “unlawful” invasive system. She expressed concerns over its ability to “collect encrypted data (such as WhatsApp messages) and request tech companies to decrypt content”. However, it’s unlikely the companies would comply with such a request in the absence of a court order, she added.

Lawful surveillance

Sadaf Khan, co-founder at the Media Matters for Democracy (mmfd), said the Investigation for Fair Trial Act 2013 and the Prevention of Electronics Crime Act (Peca) 2016 were the two main legal instruments that defined the legal procedures for initiating live surveillance.

“…what is common in both Investigation for Fair Trail Act and Peca, is that the investigation authority can only initiate such an action after getting judicial permission… such surveillance can’t go on for an unlimited period of time …,” she said in response a question about mechanisms available for digital surveillance.

She said if surveillance was carried out under LIMS then it was done without due legal procedures.

“The ICT [police] has submitted that instead of asking for a warrant for surveillance under provisions of the Fair Trial Act, they simply asked for data under section 94 of CrPC. This is absolutely a stretch legally because as far as I understand Section 94 should apply to data/documents that are already there, not create the space for active surveillance,” she added.

Ms Khan added that having this system in place “does create security risk — think of how Nadra’s data was leaked, FBR’s data was leaked, Safe City’s data was leaked — it has been proven time and again that our institutes have security gaps that allow for the misuse of such systems”.

She, however, added that there was “really nothing in place that would deem the existence of this system illegal — we do not have a data protection law”.

Even then, this system has a lot of offline implications, particularly for journalists, rights defenders, and marginalised groups, said Haroon Baloch, adding that the system allowed the “security agencies to track their movements online and go after them”. He demanded judicial and parliamentary oversight mechanisms to hold government and telecommunication companies accountable and seek answers about the necessity and proportionality of mass surveillance for an unlimited timeframe.

Likewise, Nighat Dad, who also serves on Meta’s Oversight Board, called for the accountability of telecom companies, saying that they had failed their consumers and citizens for the sake of business, not only violating international obligations under UN principles, but also Pakistan’s Constitution.

“It is mindboggling to me how telcos in Pakistan do not feel the need to be transparent towards their own consumers. Any aggrieved party, who can be their consumer, can take these companies to court for violation of their right to privacy under Article 14 of the Constitution.” She, however, believed the disclosure of a mass surveillance system was “good for public interest information and it will help citizens to push for stringent privacy protection for their data and hold respective actors accountable”.

DAWN
 
Pakistan govt authorizes phone tapping for national security, crime prevention

This authorization has been given to the ISI under Section 54 of the Pakistan Telecommunication Act.

The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication has issued a gazette notification to this effect. According to the notification, at least an officer of grade 18 will be appointed for this task.

The notification also grants the authority to trace calls, messages, and any form of communication.

Last month, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) ruled that any action of phone tapping without a legal mechanism as ‘illegal’ and turned down the additional attorney general’s request for an in-chamber hearing in the audio leaks case.

IHC’s Justice Babar Sattar presided over the hearing of the petitions filed by former first lady Bushra Bibi and ex-CJP’s son Najam Saqib regarding the audio leaks.

During the proceedings, Additional Attorney General (AAG) Manoor Iqbal Dogal informed the court that the Ministry of Interior had established a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) allowing ISI and IB to directly retrieve data from service providers.

Justice Babar expressed concern that an SOP issued by a section officer, rather than the appropriate authority, raises questions about its legality.

ARY NEWS
 
‘Security threats do not justify indefinite ban on X’

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) has rejected the government’s justification of national security threats as the reason for banning social media platform X.

The reaction came a day after the Ministry of Interior defended the months-long ban on X on the grounds that it posed a “threat to peace and national security”.

The PPF, in its statement on Tuesday, said even if the government’s concerns regarding national security and public safety were valid, “they do not justify the complete closure of the platform without any clear timeline or process for when such a ban could be lifted”.

It also called on the authorities to hold meaningful engagements with stakeholders, including civil society organisations, before taking any decision to ban the platform, which affects millions of Pakistani users.

“We also urge X to engage with Pakistani stakeholders, including the civil society and state authorities, to address their concerns,” the statement added.

Separately, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) President Afzal Butt and Secretary General Arshad Ansari welcomed the Kenyan High Court’s decision to award compensation to the family of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif, who was murdered by police near Nairobi in Oct 2022.

“While no amount of compensation can alleviate the suffering of Arshad Sharif’s family and his countless followers, this verdict brings some solace and justice,” they said in a joint statement.

DAWN
 
Caretaker govt banned X on ‘compliance issues’: Tarar informs Senate Panel

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Wednesday informed the Senate Standing Committee on Information that all the social media platforms are active in the country except “X” which was banned over the “compliance issues”.

The decision to this effect was taken by the caretaker government, said the minister while responding to such a query of Senator Barrister Ali Zafar who presided over the Senate Panel.

He said the Ministry of Interior had submitted its reply to the Islamabad High Court regarding the ban on X formerly Twitter. “The matter is with the court which will take an appropriate decision in this regard,” he hoped.

“There is no restriction on Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat and LinkedIn which are being used by the common man posting all kinds of content,” he noted.

The chairman committee underlined the need for ensuring provision of fundamental rights to all the citizens. “Freedom of expression is the basic right of every citizen as enshrined in the Constitution,” he added.


ARY News
 
Phone tapping permission for ISI challenged in LHC

The federal government’s decision to allow Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to tap phone calls has been challenged in the Lahore High Court.

Citizen Mashkoor Hussain has filed a writ petition through Advocate Nadeem Sarwar, saying the federal government issued a notification permitting the Inter-Services Intelligence to tap phone calls.

He pleaded that call-tapping is a serious invasion of an individual’s privacy. With the growth of highly sophisticated communication technology, the right to hold telephone conversation, in the privacy of one’s home or office without interference, is increasingly vulnerable to abuse.

The petitioner argued that to enjoy protection of law and to be treated in accordance with law is an inalienable right of every citizen of the country under Article 4 of the Constitution.

He said the rules for Section 54 of the Act have not yet been formulated and argued that the power vested in the federal government could not be delegated to any person without framing rules.

The petitioner asked the court to set aside the impugned notification for being unconstitutional and also ordered the federal government to formulate the rules for exercising the powers delegated under Section 54 of the Telecom act.

DAWN
 
Social media services, including Facebook, have gone down across various parts of Pakistan on Wednesday. Users have reported difficulties accessing these platforms, experiencing widespread outages

As reported by Express News, the disruption has affected multiple regions, leaving many users unable to access Facebook and other social media platforms. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has not yet responded to the outage.

The cause of the service disruption remains unclear, and users are left in the dark about when the services will be restored. The outage has sparked concern among those relying on social media for communication and updates.

The situation is being closely monitored, and further information from the PTA is awaited.

Source: The Express Tribune
 
PTA calls for timely reporting of unlawful content directly to social media platforms

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) stressed that timely reporting of unlawful content directly to social media platforms is crucial for its prompt removal.

The PTA highlighted that social media platforms encourage users to lodge complaints directly, ensuring a faster and more efficient process to address and eliminate inappropriate content.

PTA Director Muhammad Farooq in his article “The Need to be Responsible Online User” said it is essential for the public to familiarize themselves with these guidelines, as they provide a framework of rules for uploading and sharing content.

Social Media companies strive to ensure a safe platform for users through self-regulation, which involves establishing community guidelines and standards.

He further said that effective results cannot be achieved without active public participation.

To facilitate the instant reporting of unlawful content to the PTA, a state-of-the-art and user-friendly Complaint Management System (CMS) has been developed.

It is accessible online at https://complaint.pta.gov.pk/RegisterComplaint.aspx, with a mobile app available for download on both the Playstore and Appstore.

Users, he said, can lodge complaints by selecting relevant categories, such as Against the Glory of Islam, Hate Speech, Anti-State, Child Abuse or Indecent/Immoral content.


 
PTA calls for timely reporting of unlawful content directly to social media platforms

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) stressed that timely reporting of unlawful content directly to social media platforms is crucial for its prompt removal.

The PTA highlighted that social media platforms encourage users to lodge complaints directly, ensuring a faster and more efficient process to address and eliminate inappropriate content.

PTA Director Muhammad Farooq in his article “The Need to be Responsible Online User” said it is essential for the public to familiarize themselves with these guidelines, as they provide a framework of rules for uploading and sharing content.

Social Media companies strive to ensure a safe platform for users through self-regulation, which involves establishing community guidelines and standards.

He further said that effective results cannot be achieved without active public participation.

To facilitate the instant reporting of unlawful content to the PTA, a state-of-the-art and user-friendly Complaint Management System (CMS) has been developed.

It is accessible online at https://complaint.pta.gov.pk/RegisterComplaint.aspx, with a mobile app available for download on both the Playstore and Appstore.

Users, he said, can lodge complaints by selecting relevant categories, such as Against the Glory of Islam, Hate Speech, Anti-State, Child Abuse or Indecent/Immoral content.


You mean reporting of content that calls the mafia spade, spade.
 
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has downplayed ongoing issues with WhatsApp services, attributing them to a possible “technical glitch.”

Starting on July 20, numerous users across Pakistan reported difficulties in sending and receiving media files, such as voice notes, photos, and videos, on the popular messaging application while using their mobile networks.

Complaints included delays or failures in downloading media files, with some users receiving error messages from WhatsApp.

Downdetector, a global platform that monitors problems with websites and online applications, has continued to receive reports regarding WhatsApp outages in Pakistan over the past 24 hours.

While speaking at a local private news channel, representatives of two telecom operators had confirmed the issue but stated there were no problems from their side.

Malahat Obaid, the spokesperson for the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), denied any issues with WhatsApp or other social media apps, attributing any disruptions to a technical glitch. She did not elaborate on the cause of the glitch.

Meanwhile, Usama Khilji, the director of Bolo Bhi, an advocacy forum for digital rights in Pakistan, suggested that the disruptions could be linked to the installation of a government firewall intended to exert more control over internet and communication technologies.

Khilji stated that the lack of transparency regarding the firewall system was "criminal."

The PTA and telecommunications companies are continuing to investigate the issue to ensure uninterrupted services for users.

According to the World Population Review, there are 52.3 million WhatsApp users in Pakistan.

Source: The Express Tribune
 
Trial of firewall causing slowdown of internet

The trial run of firewall has resulted in the slowing down of social media, officials privy to the development have confirmed, sparking fear about the future of internet-based businesses in Pakistan.

However, they add, internet traffic will return to its normal pace once the trial is over.

The government allocated more than Rs30 billion in development budget for the acquisition and installation of this filtering system. The allocation was made to the Ministry of Information Technology; however, the execution of this project is being done from another power center. The MoIT’s role is not more than a post office in this operation.

An official said that work on the firewall has been in progress since January this year which includes the purchase of the system, its installation which has been done and now it is being commissioned. The commissioning will take some weeks. Asked if the national filter will impact the internet-based businesses, he said this might be considered a subtle threat, however, the businesses are not its target.

Another official said that this is aimed at social media influencers which, the government thinks, are involved in spreading fake news. The objective is to reduce their reach by blocking their content or making it less visible. They are already being taken to task through the Prevention of Electronic Crime Act 2016 as the courts are also being set up to try those held accused under this law.

While the firewall is now at the trial stage, an advertisement two weeks ago of Pakistan Telecommunications Authority suggested as if the paperwork to document this purchase is yet to be started. An advertisement on July 11 invited tenders for “supply, installation and configuration of Next Generation Firewalls (Ex-Chinese brand – LOT A), Web Application Firewall (WAF) [LOT B] for five years with hardware warranty Next Business Day (NBD) and Support (247/365).” The closing date for submitting is July 26.

However, a PTA spokesperson said this is a separate firewall which leaves one wonder as to how much funds are being spent for having more than one filters as the one mentioned above got a budgetary allocation of more than Rs30 billion. “The tender is meant for acquisition of firewalls intended for sole use on PTA’s internal IT infrastructure. The procurement is aimed at enhancing the security of PTA’s internal systems and will be used exclusively at PTA’s primary data center and its Disaster Recovery site. Specifically, the PTA has issued a tender for the acquisition of four Next Generation Firewalls and two Web Application Firewalls. This move is to ensure robust, layered security for PTA’s internal and application only,” said the spokesperson of PTA.



The News
 

Internet services reportedly disrupted nationwide​


Internet services are reportedly currently down across the country, with the exact cause of the disruption yet to be identified.

According to media reports, authorities are actively assessing the situation to determine the source of the issue.

Preliminary reports suggest that the disruption is likely linked to international traffic rather than the local network. Interestingly, Meta platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, continue to function seamlessly despite the widespread disruption.

Nayatel reported that its services remain unaffected. Some minor issues were noted in southern cities but have since been resolved.

The northern network, covering Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, and Faisalabad, has not experienced any disruptions.

However, the inconsistency in service disruption across various ISPs suggests that the issue may be isolated to specific networks or regions. Some ISPs are still facing issues, while others are operating normally.

Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd (PTCL) officials have identified a fault in the underground submarine cable as a potential cause of the disruption.

This fault has impacted internet service across the country, according to PTCL sources.

 
We will restore X whenever govt wants us to: PTA chairman

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Hafeezur Rehman said on Thursday that they would lift the ban on X, formerly known as Twitter, whenever the government asked them to do so.

Rehman made the statement during a meeting of the Senate's Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat which Rana Mahmoodul Hasan chaired in Islamabad.

The social media platform has been suspended in Pakistan since February 17 due to national security concerns. However, it can be accessed through a virtual private network (VPN).

Following the ban, various petitions were filed in the Sindh High Court (SHC) against the restrictions on microblogging site and intermittent suspension of internet services in the country.

Last month, the federal government defended the ban on X in its response submitted to the SHC, saying that the move was "legitimate" when it came to addressing national security concerns.

The matter also came under discussion today during the Senate body meeting when Senator Abdul Qadir asked whether the telecom regulator plans on removing the ban from the website.

"We will [remove the ban on X] on the day that the government asks us," said Rehman.

The chairman informed the lawmakers that only 7% of the complaints forwarded to the platform in the last three months have been addressed, and that X has the lowest compliance ratio among all platforms.

Rehman explained that they only block social media platforms at the government's request. He added that they reach out to the platforms about any complaints related to social media that violate Pakistani law.

Speaking about the usage of VPNs in Pakistan, the PTA chairman said that the usage of X in Pakistan has decreased by 70% despite the availability of VPNs.

"Only 30% of people are using VPN," he said, highlighting that VPNs can be blocked.

He also told the members that the PTA is whitelisting VPNs after which only selected VPNs will be available in Pakistan.

Rehman said that about 56% of people have internet access. He added that the 5G auction is likely to be held in March-April next year.

When asked if content creators pay taxes from the income through international ads, the PTA chairman said there is no legislation in this regard at present.

 
Are we living in Pakistan or North Korea???

-----------------

Plan in works to limit VPN use: PTA chief

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is working on a plan to regulate the use of VPNs in Pakistan by whitelisting some proxy networks and blocking others, the authority’s head told a parliamentary committee on Thursday.

While attending a meeting of the Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, PTA Chairman retired Maj General Hafeezur Rehman said after the policy is implemented, only whitelisted VPNs would function in Pakistan and the others will be blocked.

The use of VPNs by local internet users witnessed a significant increase in 2024. Most have been using them to access X, formerly Twitter, which has been blocked in the country since February 19.

A report by Top10VPN, an independent VPN review website, stated that the demand for proxy networks increased by 131 per cent on Feb 19, two days after X was blocked.

Surfshark, another VPN provider, said its new user acquisition rates in Pakistan climbed between 300 and 400pc in the immediate after of the ban on X.

The high number of users accessing X through VPN has also raised questions over the efficacy of the ban on the platform, but the PTA head told the Senate committee that the number of X users in Pakistan has decreased by 70pc.

Only 30pc users are accessing X through VPN, Mr Rehman claimed.

Number of X users in Pakistan is considerably low compared to other social media platforms. According to DataReportal, there were 4.5 million X users in Pakistan in early 2024.

It indicates that any attempt to regulate the use of VPN in Pakistan would have a wider implication for the IT sector which uses it for various purposes.

This was also stated by the PTA head when he was asked about a blanket ban on the use of VPN.

In response to a query by the committee’s chairman, Senator Rana Mahmoodul Hasan, the PTA chief, said VPNs can be blocked in the country, but it will “lead to the collapse of several IT businesses that operate on VPNs”.

The government has repeatedly attempted to regulate the use of VPNs by registering them, but none of those plans resulted in any tangible action.

Most recently, in 2022, the PTA asked public and private sector organisations, foreign missions, and freelancers to register their VPNs if they intended to use them without any disruptions.

The PTA had also passed VPN regulations in 2010, but their implementation remained evasive.

Taxes on social media

Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar, a member of the committee, said many social media platforms accused of violating Pakistan’s security laws have consented to opening offices in the country.

They have also offered to set up virtual offices in Pakistan, he said.

The minister pointed out that approximately 132m Pakistanis use social media for business purposes, but these platforms remain out of the tax net.

He added that social media revenues are taxed all over the world and suggested the same for Pakistan.

Senator Hassan also raised concerns over taxes on cellular advertisements. Senator Farooq Hamid Naek advised the committee members to study national and international legislation and propose measures to ensure access to digital services for the people.

DAWN
 
PTA confirms whitelisting VPNs for ‘smooth and secure functioning’ of IT services, businesses

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) this week followed up on its plan to regulate the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) in the country with a clarification that it was whitelisting VPNs through an “automated process” to ensure the “smooth and secure functioning of the IT services and online businesses.”

On Thursday, the authority’s head told a parliamentary committee that plans were in the works to regulate the use of VPNs in the country by whitelisting some proxy networks and blocking others.

While attending a meeting of the Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, PTA Chairman retired Major General Hafeezur Rehman said once the policy was implemented, only whitelisted VPNs would function in Pakistan and the others would be blocked. In response to a query by the committee’s chairman, Senator Rana Mahmoodul Hasan, the PTA chief, said VPNs could be blocked in the country, but it would “lead to the collapse of several IT businesses that operate on VPNs.”

On Saturday, PTA issued a statement on Instagram saying: “In response to recent media reports regarding PTA blocking VPNs, it is clarified that no such action has been taken and all kinds of blocking is undertaken only under the directions of government of Pakistan in accordance with legal framework and guidelines.

“It is further clarified that for smooth and secure functioning of the IT services and online businesses, VPNs are being whitelisted through an automated process available at PTA and PSEB websites.”

A VPN is a service that creates a secure, encrypted connection over a less secure network, such as the Internet, allowing users to protect their online privacy, secure their data, and access restricted content.

The use of VPNs by Pakistani internet users witnessed a significant increase in 2024. Most have been using them to access X, formerly Twitter, which has been blocked in the country since February 19.

DAWN
 
‘Great firewall of Pakistan’: Govt prepares to approve OTT regulatory framework

The government has accelerated its work on a framework to regulate over-the-top (OTT) services as another important step towards the “Great Firewall of Pakistan”.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has completed consultations with all stakeholders, and the OTT regulatory framework would be sent to the cabinet for approval after getting the authority’s nod.

Under the new framework, platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook would be required to obtain licences and authorisations. The new platform would also regulate Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and e-commerce platforms and the PTA and PEMRA would jointly regulate digital media services.

According to the documents, the OTT services would be divided into three categories: communication services, application services, and media services.

Communication services, which include platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Viber, and all other communication platforms, would be required to obtain licenses and registrations.

Application services would include platforms such as Facebook, X, e-commerce, and LinkedIn.

According to the document, media services have been further divided into two categories: non-broadcasting services and broadcasting services.

Non-broadcasting services include platforms like YouTube, Netflix, and VOD while broadcasting services include the social media forums of television channels operating in Pakistan.

The entire regulatory framework would be structured under the PECA Act 2016, which also includes the PEMRA Ordinance 2002 and the PTA Act 1996.

The document states that internet-connected over-the-top application services fall under the purview of PTA. Under this framework, all stakeholders and companies would have to operate within local laws. Internet communication services would need to obtain OTT authorisation or a licence from the PTA. All communication platforms would be bound by PTA regulations, with the OTT authorisation or licence valid for 15 years.

Upon approval, all platforms would have to obtain registration or a licence from the authority within 12 months. The platforms would be required to ensure content safety, privacy, and compliance with local laws. In case of any dispute, the platforms will have to provide content to the relevant agency or officer.

Companies would have to store their data within the country. In emergency situations, licence holders will be bound to provide location and general information.

OTT application services would have to comply with PECA laws instead of requiring a licence or authorisation. Media services would have to adhere to the PECA Act rather than obtaining a licence or authorisation. OTT broadcasting services would be subject to the PEMRA Ordinance 2002 and PECA laws while non-broadcasting services would also fall under this framework.

The document suggests that this over-the-top regulatory framework would be supportive of Pakistan’s “Great firewall system.”


AAJ News
 
Telegram etc all banned in Pak, what can you actually use
 
And what about Tiktok in India?

TikTok is an extremely dangerous digital tool in the control of China which it can use to destroy societies abroad. Rightfully banned among 50 something Chinese apps in Bharat. One of Modi govts good decisions.
 
Social media disruption across Pakistan: PTA head summoned to provide explanation

The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information Technology has demanded an explanation from Hafiz Rehman, the Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), regarding the ongoing social media disruption affecting the entire country.

The committee, under the leadership of Amin ul Haq, has requested Rehman to provide a detailed account of the reasons behind the widespread disruption in social media services. Additionally, the committee has asked for an update on the nationwide internet service disruption and the reported issues with weak mobile signals. The Attorney General of Pakistan has also been summoned to attend the committee’s meeting scheduled for August 21 at the Parliament House.

Currently, internet services are down across Pakistan, with the precise cause of the disruption yet to be determined. Initial reports suggest that the issue might be linked to international traffic rather than any problem within the local network. Despite the widespread disruption, Meta platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram continue to function.

Sources within Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd (PTCL) have indicated that a fault in the underground submarine cable might be the root cause of the internet service disruption nationwide.

In a related development, the Pakistan government recently decided to implement a firewall across all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to control social media, a move that follows the enactment of the Defamation Law 2024 by the Punjab government. According to sources, the firewall is designed to regulate internet traffic and will be equipped with deep packet inspection (DPI) technology, which allows for monitoring data up to the seventh layer.

This firewall will enable the government to filter social media content, identify and block propaganda, and restrict access to prohibited material. ISPs will be required to install the firewall, with the government covering some of the associated costs. The firewall will also have the capability to block data at the IP level, and ISPs will be mandated to take measures to block illegal content under the terms of their licensing agreements.

 
Pakistan has been grappling with significant internet disruptions for nearly a week, resulting in slow speeds and limited app functionality

The connectivity issues have particularly impacted platforms like Fiverr, where many Pakistani freelancers have marked their gigs as “unavailable” due to these disruptions. Fiverr has temporarily adjusted its policies to prevent freelancers from receiving negative ratings for delays caused by connectivity problems.

The ongoing disruptions have led to widespread frustration among users, who are vocal in their dissatisfaction with the government and urging Fiverr to address the situation. In addition, many individuals are resorting to VPNs to bypass internet issues and access platforms amid the current ban on X (formerly Twitter).

As the internet connectivity challenges persist, there are increasing demands for the prompt restoration of reliable internet services across Pakistan to mitigate the ongoing difficulties.

Source: The Nation
 
Heightened surveillance blamed for cyber slowdown

Amid growing concerns from the business community, the internet service providers on Wednesday alleged that the government’s heightened efforts to monitor internet traffic had resulted in a significant nationwide slowdown of services.

A statement issued by the Wireless and Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan (WISPAP) said the government’s decision to enhance security and surveillance has had an unintended consequence, severely crippling the country’s digital economy. “Over the past few weeks, internet speeds have plummeted by 30 to 40 per cent, creating a chaotic situation for businesses and individuals who rely heavily on fast, reliable connectivity.”

The association said the impact had been particularly devastating for call centres, e-commerce professionals, the online working class, and those who manage electronic-related businesses.

“These sectors, which form the backbone of Pakistan’s burgeoning digital economy, are now struggling to maintain operations, and the slowdown is threatening their very survival,” it said, adding that the situation had become so dire that many businesses were considering relocating their operations to other countries where internet services remain stable.

“It’s a very discouraging situation for our customers,” said WISPAP Chairman Shahzad Arshad. “Many are leaving the smaller ISPs because they cannot sustain the poor service quality anymore. If this continues, we will see a mass exodus of businesses from Pakistan.”

Mr Arshad’s concerns were shared by numerous industry leaders, who cautioned that the current situation is not only tarnishing Pakistan’s reputation as a hub for digital entrepreneurship but also jeopardising its economic stability. The inability to utilise VPNs due to heightened surveillance was further aggravating the issue, especially for international businesses and freelancers who depend on secure, uninterrupted internet access for their operations.

“We are seeing businesses planning to shift their operations abroad because the internet is simply no longer reliable,” said a leading e-commerce entrepreneur based in Karachi. “Without fast and secure internet, we cannot compete on a global scale, and this is pushing us towards the brink.”

He said the panic within the business community is growing as the government’s measures showed no sign of abating. As the country navigated through these challenging times, the future of Pakistan’s digital landscape hangs in the balance, with businesses and consumers alike bearing the brunt of the slowdown, he regretted.

“While the government remained steadfast in its commitment to enhancing security, the question remained at what cost to the nation’s digital economy? As businesses continued to suffer, there is an urgent need for a solution that balances security concerns with the need for robust and reliable internet access,” he said.

Major online platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp have been hit hard, with users reporting slowdowns and difficulties in accessing messaging and social media applications.

Some users speculated that the disruptions were the result of a firewall being installed by the government to monitor and keep check on users. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) denied that the issue was caused by a firewall.

DAWN NEWS
 

Pakistan's internet firewall could cost economy $300 million, association says​


Pakistan's economy could lose up to $300 million due to internet disruptions caused by imposition of a national firewall, the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) said in a press release on Thursday.

Islamabad is implementing an internet firewall to monitor and regulate content and social media platforms, according local media reports. The government denies the use of the firewall for censorship.

Ali Ihsan, senior vice chairman of P@SHA, said the imposition of the firewall has already caused prolonged internet disconnections and erratic VPN performance, threatening a "complete meltdown of business operations".

"These disruptions are not mere inconveniences; but, a direct, tangible and aggressive assault on the industry's viability – inflicting an estimated and devastating financial losses estimated to reach $300 million, which can further increase exponentially," he said in the statement.

Pakistan's telecommunication authority and Pakistan's Minister of State for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja did not immediately respond.

Earlier this month, Khawaja told local media that the government did not plan to use firewalls as a form of censorship.

Pakistan has already blocked access to social media platform X since the February elections in which jailed former prime minister Imran Khan won the most seats despite a crackdown and ban on his party.

The government has said the blocking was to stop anti state activities and a failure by X to adhere to local Pakistani laws. Rights activists say the blocking of X is designed to stifle critical voices and democratic accountability in the country.

In its statement, P@SHA said that the government's lack of transparency around the firewall had "ignited a firestorm of distrust" among internet users and Pakistan's global IT clients who fear their proprietary data and privacy will be compromised.

P@SHA demanded an "immediate and unconditional halt to this digital siege" and called on the government to engage with the industry to develop a cybersecurity framework.

Pakistan recorded $298 million in IT exports in June, up 33% from the year before. During the fiscal year that ended in June, IT exports were worth $3.2 billion, up 24% from $2.5 billion in the fiscal year 2023.

 
Am reading that a lot of internet dependent businesses and freelancers are going bankrupt and struggling to feed their families. Some have lost long term contracts with international partners.
 
RIP freelancing
====
Internet services across Pakistan have been severely disrupted, causing widespread inconvenience to users. The issue has persisted for several days, affecting all internet service providers.

Social media platforms have been particularly impacted, with users experiencing difficulties even downloading audio messages. While internet service providers have attributed the problem to social media issues, mobile companies deny any involvement.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has refrained from commenting on the matter.

Meanwhile, the government has initiated a process to regulate all social media platforms. Documents reveal that a categorization-based regulatory framework will be implemented after approval from the Federal Cabinet.

Source: Aaj News
 
By doing these actions, the government and its supporters are becoming more unpopular and despicable before the common masses.
 
Pakistan can lose $3 billion in IT sector exports: Senator Afnan

The citizens are currently suffering from the slow internet in Pakistan, affecting the businesses of freelancers and digital agencies across the country, ARY News reported on Thursday.

The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology, chaired by Palusha Khan, convened to address the recent disruptions in internet service across Pakistan and sought a detailed report on the issue within two weeks.

During the meeting, Senator Afnan Ullah Khan highlighted that due to the internet disruption, freelancers and digital agencies have already lost $500 million and impacted the country’s economy.

Senator Afnanullah voiced concerns over the assumption that security is achieved by simply shutting down internet services, stressing the need for uninterrupted service in the country.

Minister of State for IT, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, also highlighted that there have been widespread complaints about slow internet speeds.

She stressed the importance of reliable internet for the digital economy and government operations and revealed ongoing efforts to auction 5G services.

Shaza Fatima also requested data from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for the last two weeks to assess internet traffic and speed, noting that complaints about WhatsApp outages have been addressed.

She pointed out that international cyber security attacks are increasingly targeting the country, underscoring the need for the state to enhance its capabilities to prevent such incidents.

The Minister of State also mentioned that firewalls are commonly used globally, and the government had previously implemented a web management system.

On the other hand, the Secretary of IT, Aisha Humera, acknowledged that the disruptions were related to mobile operators’ services and assured the committee that data is being collected from these operators and will be presented in the requested time frame.

Despite the challenges, Aisha Humera promised that the internet issue would be resolved soon across Pakistan.

The Senate Standing Committee will reconvene once the detailed report is submitted to review the findings and decide on further actions.


ARY News
 
Mobile phone services to remain suspended in THESE districts on Aug 26

The Punjab government has decided to partially suspend the mobile services in 10 districts of Punjab on the occasion of Chehlum of Imam Hussain (RA).

The suspension will be in effect from 5 AM to 11 PM at specific locations where mourning processions are taking place, according to the spokesperson for the Punjab Home Department.

The affected districts include Rawalpindi, Jhang, Layyah, Sargodha, Bhakkar, Mianwali, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Chakwal, and Toba Tek Singh.

However, mobile phone services will remain operational in other districts of Punjab, including Lahore.

The decision to suspend mobile phone services at specific locations was made to ensure law and order and the safety of citizens.

The Chehlum observance takes place 40 days after the Day of Ashura and commemorates the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his 72 companions by Yazidi forces in the Battle of Karbala in 61 A.H.

ARY NEWS
 

Internet gradually recovers in Pakistan, social media apps restore functionality​


Internet and social media issues in Pakistan have started to be resolved, with social media apps gradually coming back online in various regions.

Internet users across the country, including business professionals, freelancers, educational institutions, and students, had compained of suffering immense frustration due to slow internet speeds and unresponsive social media platforms.

The disruptions not only affected individual users but also inflicted significant financial losses on the nation.

The internet outage had rendered users unable to download media from social platforms, struggling to send and receive images, videos, voice messages, and other documents.

On Friday, internet services began to gradually restore in various parts of the country, with social media apps slowly coming back online, allowing users to resume downloading data.

Earlier, the ISPs Association had warned that if the internet and social media services remained down, Pakistan's economic condition would worsen further.

Global companies reliant on online operations might turn to other countries, leaving Pakistani freelancers in jeopardy.

Meanwhile, a petition against internet disruptions was heard in the Lahore High Court today, with the court issuing notices to the relevant parties and demanding a response.

Another petition was filed in the Islamabad High Court, urging that the installation of firewalls be made conditional upon stakeholder consultations and the protection of basic rights, stressing that internet access is a fundamental human right under the constitution.

The petition further requested that all details regarding the firewall installation be submitted to the court and that the installation process be suspended until a decision is reached.

It also called for ensuring uninterrupted internet access for citizens.

The petition claimed that the firewall installation appeared to have significantly slowed internet speeds, adversely affecting the youth, who are vital to the digital economy.

According to a report, the suspension of 3G and 4G services has resulted in daily losses of PKR 1.3 billion.

 
So our free lancers are getting destroyed as experiment with firewall. Nothing should stand in their way or it will be destroyed to help the establishment stay in power with his mafia. And then munafiq talks about the constitution
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Bangladesh Players Upset Over Slow Internet in Pakistan

The Bangladesh cricket team, currently in Pakistan for a two-match Test series, has raised concerns with their management over slow internet connectivity, which is hindering their ability to communicate with family members back home.

The Bangladesh team arrived in Pakistan earlier than initially planned, following civil unrest in Dhaka, which prompted the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to accept an invitation from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to arrive ahead of schedule.

However, their stay has been marred by internet disruptions affecting numerous Pakistani cities. These disruptions are reportedly linked to the federal government’s intensified efforts to monitor internet traffic, resulting in a significant slowdown in services nationwide.

The slow internet has particularly affected the Bangladesh players’ ability to check in with their families, adding stress to their stay in Pakistan. The team, which is currently training in Lahore, will travel to Islamabad on August 17 to continue their preparations for the first Test match.

The opening match of the series is scheduled to take place at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, starting on August 21, with the second Test set to commence on August 30 in Karachi.

The widespread nature of the internet issues has led to speculation about their origins. Many users suspect that the government is behind the disruptions, possibly implementing a firewall to monitor and control online activity.

The government has been conducting trials of a social media firewall aimed at regulating online content and ensuring national security. Internet service providers have installed firewalls capable of blocking social media apps and restricting audio and video downloads, as part of efforts to curb controversial content and propaganda on social media platforms.

Source: Pro Pakistani
 
Govt should reconsider firewall installation in Pakistan: P@SHA

Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) on Friday expressed concerns and plea the federal government to reconsider the installation of the firewall in the country, ARY News reported.

The association’s vice-chairman, Khurram Rahat, disclosed that the recent internet disruption in the country caused a total of $300 million loss to IT sector.

The design and purpose of firewalls in Pakistan has raised concerns among our clients worldwide, with international companies feeling that their data will be compromised.

He further added that the IT industry considered digital disruption as a threat to the economy, suggesting that the government should adopt transparent procedures to make cyber security effective.

However, P@SHA demanded that the government should consult for cyber security and protection of national interest and form a committee comprising all stakeholders.

Vice Chairman PASHA emphasized that firewalls should not be installed by suspending internet access, pointing out the significant negative effects of internet slowdowns on freelancers and the IT sector. He urged the government to enhance internet services promptly to prevent further damage.

It is pertinent to mention here that Hamid Mir, a senior journalist associated with a private news channel, has filed a petition in Islamabad High Court against the installation of firewall and internet shutdown through lawyer – Imaan Mazari.

The applicant in his petition argued that the installation of the firewall apparently caused a drastic drop in internet speed, hurting the youth who are the backbone of the digital economy.

The petitioner has requested that the installation of firewalls, which could potentially impact the fundamental rights of citizens, to be halted and argued that such installations should be carried out only after consulting relevant stakeholders and ensuring the protection of fundamental rights.

Additionally, the petitioner urged that access to the internet for livelihood purposes be recognized as a fundamental human right under the Constitution.

The petitioner also requested that the involved parties be required to provide a detailed report on the firewall implementation.


 
Bangladesh Players Upset Over Slow Internet in Pakistan

The Bangladesh cricket team, currently in Pakistan for a two-match Test series, has raised concerns with their management over slow internet connectivity, which is hindering their ability to communicate with family members back home.

The Bangladesh team arrived in Pakistan earlier than initially planned, following civil unrest in Dhaka, which prompted the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to accept an invitation from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to arrive ahead of schedule.

However, their stay has been marred by internet disruptions affecting numerous Pakistani cities. These disruptions are reportedly linked to the federal government’s intensified efforts to monitor internet traffic, resulting in a significant slowdown in services nationwide.

The slow internet has particularly affected the Bangladesh players’ ability to check in with their families, adding stress to their stay in Pakistan. The team, which is currently training in Lahore, will travel to Islamabad on August 17 to continue their preparations for the first Test match.

The opening match of the series is scheduled to take place at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, starting on August 21, with the second Test set to commence on August 30 in Karachi.

The widespread nature of the internet issues has led to speculation about their origins. Many users suspect that the government is behind the disruptions, possibly implementing a firewall to monitor and control online activity.

The government has been conducting trials of a social media firewall aimed at regulating online content and ensuring national security. Internet service providers have installed firewalls capable of blocking social media apps and restricting audio and video downloads, as part of efforts to curb controversial content and propaganda on social media platforms.

Source: Pro Pakistani
Feel bad for them. They leave their country at such a dangerous time, come here and are forced to contend with something like this. Pakistan as a country is moving backwards day by day. The people in charge have the IQ and intellect of an insect. All they care about is quelling freedom of speech and using draconian self-made laws to control what can or cannot be said. The only solution is to leave Pakistan. Because Pakistan as a country is only for the ruling elite now. These are people who live lives that average people can only dream of. They have power, money and they can get away with anything and everything. For average people the reality of life is very different. Even access to basic things is starting to get difficult.

Don't even get me started on the poor who are struggling to survive. Hate to state the obvious but this country has no future.
 
Back
Top