2. National Institute of Management
32nd SMC
Current Issue Presentation
Regulatory Framework for Social Media in Pakistan:
Challenges and Way-Forward
Participant: Naveed Khan
Group: Inland Revenue Service
Faculty Advisor: Mr. Khurram Shakoor
Dated: 8th December, 2022

3. Sequence of the Presentation
Currency of the Topic
01.
Scope
03.
Statement of the Problem
02.
Regulatory framework & Analysis
04.
Conclusion
05.
Recommendations
06.

4. Currency of the Topic
Govt hints at bringing
regulations to 'control' social
media
Wanted to kill Imran Khan as he
was 'misleading the public

5. Glossary of Terms
ITU International Telecommunications
Union
FIA Federal Investigation
Agency
SSMC Significant Social Media Companies SMR Social Media Rules
PTA Pakistan Telecommunication Authority NSMCGW National Social Media
Coordination Working Group
OTT Over the Top IHC Islamabad High Court
MoITT Ministry of IT and Telecommunication CIME Civil Society for Independent
Media and Expression
RSF Reporters Without Borders PECA Prevention of Electronic
Crime Act
USA United States of America

6. Statement of the Problem
Pakistan’s 68% of total population is under 30 years and there are 121 million 3G/4G cellular
subscribers (54.6%). There is a rapid increase in the use of social media particularly the young
people who are exposed and vulnerable to the misinformation, propaganda and setting of
particular narratives with certain agendas. In this era of information age, with the onslaught of
5th generation warfare and the fundamental right of freedom of speech enshrined under Article
19 of the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973, regulation of social media is a challenge.
How the government could create that delicate balance between freedom of expression and
regulating content on social media through an appropriate regulatory framework and its fair
and judicious implementation.

7. Scope
The scope revolves around Pakistan’s current regulatory mechanisms to ensure productive,
responsible and legitimate use of social media, assesses the reasons for inability towards
implementation of these regulatory efforts, multifarious challenges and shares approaches and
opportunities to regulate social media in Pakistan.

8. Demographics – Population & Social
Media
223.7mn
All figures shown are in millions

9. 5th Generation Warfare &
Freedom of Speech
• Setting narratives through propaganda and misinformation
• Disrupt political, economical, or social interest
• Baluchistan crisis, radicalization and extremism
• Indian chronicles report – EU disinfo lab
• Article 19 – Freedom of speech and expression
• Reasonable restrictions imposed by law

10. Regulatory Frameworks
• Prevention of Electronic Crime Act, 2016
• Citizen Protection (against online harm) Rules, 2020
• Removal and Blocking of Content Rules, 2020
• Removal and Blocking of Content Rules, 2021
• Regulation of Criminal Proceedings through FIA
• Litigation on SMR 2021 and PECA 2016

11. PTA’s Efforts and SSMCs
Response
• Processing of platform-wise URLs complaints – 1,216,438
• Registration of SSMCs
• Public awareness campaign by PTA
• Response of Facebook and Youtube
• Response of Twitter
• Blocking based on SSMCs on community standards

12. Context: Regional & USA
• Complete blackout approach to regulate SSMCs
• Approach to regulate content on SSMCs
• Pakistan’s approach towards SSMCs
• Social media regulations in India
• Social media regulations in Bangladesh
• Social media regulations in USA

13. Economic & International
Impacts
• Global freelancing economy – USD 1.2 trillion
• Pakistan 4th fastest growing freelancing economy
• Remittance inflow in Pakistan – 397.32 USD
• Pakistan’s economy and image across the world
• Impact of civil society
• Impact of media organizations

15. Challenges
• Widely accepted fair and judicious regulatory framework
• Interpreting qualification criteria for freedom of speech
• Weak enforcement and compliance mechanism
• Lack of meaningful engagement of SSMCs
• Lack of an efficient coordinated system between key stakeholders
• Lack of awareness among general public

16. Conclusion
There is a strong need to regulate the social media to protect individual rights to privacy and
protection against harassment, cyber bullying, protect ideological and social frontiers as well as
reduce the impact of campaigns from adversaries. However, to create that delicate balance, this
is imperative to develop a robust institutional mechanism to ensure justice and fair play to
avoid allegations of abuse of authority and political victimization.

17. Reccomendations
• Multi-stakeholder engagement with all relevant actors
• Develop and defining objective criteria for qualifications
• Establishing a robust institutional mechanism with clear roles
• Design and develop an awareness campaign with SSMCs
• Engagement with SSMCs through MOFA/MoITT etc.
• Education and awareness of general public

18. Thank You

19. References
Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication. (n.d.). Removal and Blocking of Unlawful Online Content Rules 2020. Retrieved from
https://moitt.gov.pk/SiteImage/Misc/files/Social%20Media%20Rules.pdf
Civil society for Independent Media and Expression. (2020, December). WHITE PAPER ON POLICY EFFORTS TO REGULATE ONLINE MEDIA.
Retrieved from https://www.cpdi-pakistan.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/White-Paper-Policy-Efforts-to-Regulate-Online-Media.pdf
Constitution of Pakistan, 1973. (n.d.). Retrieved from National Assembly of Pakistan: https://na.gov.pk/uploads/documents/1333523681_951.pdf
Data Reportal. (2022, February 16). Digital 2022: Pakistan . Retrieved from Data Reportal: https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2022-pakistan
Forbes. (2021, May). What Is The $1.2 Trillion Dollar Freelance Economy? Retrieved from Forbes:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/matthewmottola/2021/05/19/what-is-the-12-trillion-dollar-freelance-economy/?sh=5ee2b5d76a88
Foundation, D. R. (n.d.). Content Regulation in Pakistan’s Digital Spaces: June 2018 Human Rights Council Report.
Hanif, U. (n.d.). Freelancers earn $400 million in FY22. Retrieved from The Express Tribune: https://tribune.com.pk/story/2372834/freelancers-
earn-400-million-in-fy22
Imran, K. (2022, April 08). Arab News. Retrieved from https://www.arabnews.pk/node/2059351/pakistan
International Telecommunication Union. (2022, November 29). International Telecommunication Union. Retrieved from UN specialized agency for
ICTs: https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Pages/stat/default.aspx
Media Matters for Democracy . (n.d.). An initial analysis of the new social media rules and their potential impact on digital rights and economy in
Pakistan. Retrieved from Media Matters for Democracy : https://mediamatters.pk/media-matters-for-democracy-conducts-an-initial-
analysis-of-the-new-social-media-rules-and-their-potential-impact-on-digital-rights-and-economy-in-pakistan/
National Assembly of Pakistan. (2016, August 11). PECA, 2016. Retrieved from National Assembly of Pakistan:
https://na.gov.pk/uploads/documents/1470910659_707.pdf
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority . (2022). Briefing on the working and actions taken by PTA under the Removal and Blocking of Unlawful
Online Content Rules 2021.
Punjab Information Technology Board . (n.d.). Pakistan 4th most popular country for freelancing. Retrieved from Punjab Information Technology
Board : https://www.erozgaar.pitb.gov.pk/Pakistan-4th-freelancing-country
Reporters Without Borders . (n.d.). Another attempt by Pakistan’s government to censor social media. Retrieved from Reporters Without Borders :
https://rsf.org/en/another-attempt-pakistan-s-government-censor-social-media
Tariq, A. (n.d.). Regulate; Not Censor: Pakistan’s Internet Censorship Regime Threatens Small Businesses. Retrieved from Digital Rights Monitor:
https://digitalrightsmonitor.pk/regulate-not-censor-pakistans-internet-censorship-regime-threatens-small-businesses/