ISLAMABAD — The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has blocked 184 websites and apps related to betting and gambling, following complaints received from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoIB), and the public, as disclosed by the Cabinet Division.
Under Section 37 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, PTA has the authority to block or remove unlawful online content, primarily operating through a complaint-based mechanism. While PTA can block platforms, legal proceedings against individuals involved fall outside its jurisdiction.
The federal government has directed regulatory bodies including PEMRA, PTA, and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to avoid collaborations with surrogate companies involved in gambling or betting. PTA promptly removes any reported online presence of such platforms. Complaints related to financial losses on these platforms are forwarded to FIA for investigation.
Public awareness is a cornerstone of PTA’s approach, utilizing seminars, television programs, digital media, and SMS campaigns to educate citizens on illegal online content and its risks.
To enhance efficiency, PTA has implemented complaint mechanisms for the public and government organizations, including an e-portal under Rule 4(3) of the 2021 Online Content Removal Rules. The portal is accessible to 51 stakeholder agencies such as SECP, SBP, BISP, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior, Armed Forces, and provincial home departments, enabling them to report unlawful content within their operational mandates.
Despite limitations, PTA remains steadfast in combating illegal online content by acting swiftly on validated complaints.
