ISLAMABAD: The Mi­­nistry of Reli­gious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has asked the telecom regulator to block blasphemous content on social media.

In a letter to the Pakistan Tele­com­munication Auth­ority (PTA), the ministry said pornographic and blasphemous content was still accessible online.

The ministry has learn­­ed that Pakistan was amo­ng the countries with the highest viewership of adult content, the letter said, calling the trend “alarming”.

“It also raises serious concerns regarding the adherence to the directives of the Supreme Court and [PTA] ability to effectively enforce content regulations,” the letter added.

The ministry said the effects of PTA’s proactive measures to block adult and blasphemous content in line with Supreme Court orders were not visible.

The letter said the PTA has made “significant efforts” to block adult and blasphemous content, but “the said material is still accessible online”, which “violates our cultural and religious values”.

The ministry maintained that the widespread availability of such content undermines efforts to protect citizens, particularly young people, from exposure to harmful material.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2024

Opinion

Editorial

Afghan strikes
Updated 26 Dec, 2024

Afghan strikes

The military option has been employed by the govt apparently to signal its unhappiness over the state of affairs with Afghanistan.
Revamping tax policy
26 Dec, 2024

Revamping tax policy

THE tax bureaucracy appears to have convinced the government that it can boost revenues simply by taking harsher...
Betraying women voters
26 Dec, 2024

Betraying women voters

THE ECP’s recent pledge to eliminate the gender gap among voters falls flat in the face of troubling revelations...
Kurram ‘roadmap’
Updated 25 Dec, 2024

Kurram ‘roadmap’

The state must provide ironclad guarantees that the local population will be protected from all forms of terrorism.
Snooping state
25 Dec, 2024

Snooping state

THE state’s attempts to pry into citizens’ internet activities continue apace. The latest in this regard is a...
A welcome first step
25 Dec, 2024

A welcome first step

THE commencement of a dialogue between the PTI and the coalition parties occupying the treasury benches in ...