Islamabad: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Hafeezur Rehman announced on Thursday that the ban on X, formerly known as Twitter, will be lifted whenever the government directs them to do so. This statement was made during a Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat meeting chaired by Rana Mahmoodul Hasan.
Government-Requested Website Blocks: Rehman clarified that the PTA only blocks websites upon government request. The social media platform X has been suspended in Pakistan since February 17 due to national security concerns. However, it remains accessible through virtual private networks (VPNs).
Legal and Compliance Issues: Following the ban, several petitions were filed in the Sindh High Court (SHC) against the restrictions on X and the intermittent suspension of internet services. The federal government defended the ban, citing national security concerns. During the Senate meeting, Senator Abdul Qadir questioned whether the PTA plans to lift the ban. Rehman responded, “We will [remove the ban on X] on the day that the government asks us.”
Rehman also noted that only 7% of the complaints forwarded to X in the last three months have been addressed, making it the platform with the lowest compliance ratio.
VPN Whitelisting: Discussing VPN usage, Rehman mentioned that X usage in Pakistan has decreased by 70% despite VPN availability. He stated that only 30% of people are using VPNs and announced that the PTA is whitelisting VPNs, allowing only selected VPNs to be available in Pakistan.
Internet Access and Future Plans: Rehman highlighted that about 56% of Pakistan’s population has internet access, and a 5G auction is likely to be held in March-April next year.
Taxation on Content Creators: When asked if content creators pay taxes on income earned through international ads, Rehman said there is currently no legislation on this matter. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar added that negotiations are underway with international social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram regarding taxation. He emphasized that social media platforms used for commercial purposes should be taxed, as is done worldwide.
Virtual Offices and Local Manufacturing: Tarar also mentioned that social media platforms are considering opening virtual offices in Pakistan due to security concerns. The cabinet secretary stated that the issue of advertisements on social media would be brought to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
The secretary further informed the committee about the local manufacturing of mobile phones, highlighting that around 37 local companies are producing about 20 million phones annually, 40% of which are smartphones. He added that people can now buy phones in installments, promoting digitalization.
Telecom Taxation and Cybersecurity: Rehman concluded by noting that Pakistan has a 34.50% tax on telecom customers and proudly stated that there has been no cyber attack on telecom networks in the past two years.
This comprehensive discussion underscores the PTA’s responsiveness to government directives and its efforts to navigate the complexities of internet access, security, and digital economy in Pakistan.