The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has blocked access to 16 YouTube news channels, 31 video links, and 32 websites for disseminating content deemed harmful to national interests. The authority stated that the action was taken to curb the spread of misleading and anti-state narratives.
In an official statement, the PTA emphasized that the decision was made in the interest of national security and to safeguard Pakistan’s digital environment. The blocked content reportedly included deceptive material aimed at manipulating public sentiment and undermining national unity.
“The intent of this material was to distort public perception and damage the country’s cohesion,” said the PTA.
This latest wave of digital restrictions comes amid heightened tensions with India, following recent missile strikes on Pakistani territory. Indian forces reportedly targeted areas including Kotli, Muzaffarabad, Ahmedpur Sharqia, Bagh, and Muridke.
According to the Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lt. General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the Pakistan Air Force responded swiftly by activating its air defense systems, successfully deterring Indian aircraft from entering Pakistani airspace.
In retaliation for what was termed a “cowardly” Indian attack, Pakistani forces reportedly shot down five Indian aircraft and destroyed a brigade headquarters. Lt. General Chaudhry further confirmed that 26 Pakistani civilians were martyred and 46 others wounded in the strikes. A total of 24 missile attacks were reported across six locations.
These developments follow a broader effort by PTA to enforce digital regulation. In December 2024, the authority reported having blocked over 1.4 million websites under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).
Official data for fiscal year 2023–24 revealed that 109,771 websites were blocked. Of these, 33,634 were flagged for posing defense and security threats, while 268 were suspended for blasphemous content. Another 55,723 were removed due to unethical material, and 3,618 were taken down over communal or hate speech concerns.
Additionally, 13,422 websites were blocked for inciting religious hatred, 1,058 for offensive content, and 2,428 for other forms of illegal activity.
