(Web Desk Monitoring) — PTA Chairman Hafeezur Rehman announced on Thursday that the ban on X (formerly known as Twitter) would be lifted upon government instruction, local media reported.

During a meeting of the Senate’s Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat in Islamabad, chaired by Rana Mahmoodul Hasan, Rehman discussed the ongoing suspension of the social media platform, which has been inaccessible in Pakistan since February 17 due to national security concerns. Despite the ban, X remains accessible via virtual private networks (VPNs).

The platform’s suspension has sparked legal challenges, including petitions filed in the Sindh High Court (SHC) against the restrictions on X and the intermittent suspension of internet services. Last month, the federal government defended the ban in a response to the SHC, asserting it was a “legitimate” measure addressing national security issues.

Senator Abdul Qadir inquired during the meeting about the possibility of lifting the ban on X. Rehman responded, “We will [remove the ban on X] on the day that the government asks us.” He noted that only 7% of the complaints forwarded to X over the past three months had been addressed, highlighting the platform’s low compliance rate among social media services.

Rehman explained that social media platforms are blocked only at the government’s request and that the PTA reaches out to these platforms concerning complaints related to violations of Pakistani law.

Regarding VPN usage, Rehman stated that X’s use in Pakistan had dropped by 70%, despite the availability of VPNs, with only 30% of users accessing the platform through these networks. He mentioned that PTA is in the process of whitelisting VPNs, which will restrict access to only selected VPN services in Pakistan.

Rehman also highlighted that approximately 56% of Pakistanis have internet access, and the 5G auction is tentatively scheduled for March-April next year.

When asked about taxation on income generated by content creators through international ads, Rehman noted the absence of legislation in this area. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar added that negotiations are underway with international social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, regarding the taxation of commercial activities. He emphasized that while social media is used for commercial purposes globally, it is subject to taxation elsewhere.

Tarar also mentioned that social media platforms are considering opening virtual offices in Pakistan due to security concerns. The cabinet secretary informed the committee that the issue of advertising on social media would be raised with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

Additionally, the secretary announced that local manufacturing of mobile phones has begun in Pakistan. He reported that around 37 local companies are producing mobile phones, with approximately 20 million units manufactured annually, 40% of which are smartphones. This initiative includes an installment plan for phone purchases, aimed at promoting digitalization.

Rehman concluded by stating that Pakistan imposes a 34.50% tax on telecom customers and noted that there have been no cyberattacks on telecom infrastructure in the past two years.