The Ministry of Religious Affairs has urged the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to take swift action in blocking and restricting access to pornographic, blasphemous, and other harmful online content.
In a letter addressed to the PTA, the ministry expressed concern over Pakistan’s rising position as one of the leading countries in viewing pornographic content, calling it alarming due to its negative impact on public morality and societal well-being.
Despite proactive measures taken by the PTA to block such content following Supreme Court orders from January 2016, May 2016, and March 2018, the ministry noted that pornographic and blasphemous material remains easily accessible on various online platforms.
While acknowledging the PTA’s efforts to address this issue, the ministry emphasized that such content continues to be accessible online, contradicting Pakistan’s cultural and religious values.
The widespread availability of this material undermines efforts to protect citizens, particularly the youth, from harmful exposure and raises concerns about the PTA’s effectiveness in enforcing content regulations.
Given the gravity of the issue, the ministry called for prompt action by the PTA to block and restrict access to harmful online content as soon as possible, concluding with a request for “early and prompt action.”
