On January 20, the amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) were unanimously approved, including new provisions requiring service providers to remove or block notified online content within a specified timeframe. The committee also discussed proposals to impose restrictions on social media platforms that do not cooperate with Pakistan’s regulatory authorities. The meeting, chaired by Senator Faisal Saleem, reviewed amendments submitted by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).
Under the approved PECA amendment bill, tabled by Senator Anusha Rehman, service providers would be legally bound to comply with requests from authorised bodies to remove or block content. The draft states that failure to act within the prescribed timeframe would result in legal action. According to the bill’s text, the objective is to strengthen regulation of online content and enhance the legal framework for preventing electronic crimes.
During the session, Senator Rehman asked what clear procedures existed for removing objectionable content and what steps would be taken if social media platforms did not comply with PTA or NCCIA directions. The DG NCCIA said requests for cooperation had already been sent to the platforms. Senator Rehman noted that service providers had previously maintained they were not obligated to remove content without a legally established offence.
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said legislation regarding social media fell under the Ministry of Information Technology, even though relevant laws were already in place. He told the committee that some social media platforms had not shared information or IP addresses for accounts involved in terrorism, hindering investigations. He said platforms had been repeatedly asked to cooperate, noting that criminal activity had shifted from the use of weapons to the misuse of online tools.
Committee chair Faisal Saleem Rahman said that platforms that refuse to cooperate with Pakistani authorities should face restrictions in the country. He said formal agreements were needed to ensure compliance, and cited China’s approach to regulating social media. Senator Palwasha Khan also supported the suggestion of restrictions on non-cooperating platforms. The committee later sought a detailed briefing from relevant authorities in the next meeting.
The committee also reviewed identity theft and large-scale data breaches affecting Pakistani citizens. Senator Afnanullah Khan raised a case in which a fraudster allegedly travelled to India in 2023 using a forged passport containing the identity details of a consultant linked to the Attorney General’s Office. The affected lawyer confirmed that his personal information had been misused, and said he and his parents had visited the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to verify their citizenship. He stated that he holds dual nationality and travels on a British passport, adding that he had been waiting for a meeting with the director general of passports for more than a year.
The DG passports said NADRA had shared several cases of identity fraud with his department and that a dedicated dashboard had been developed to identify forged or misused travel documents. In response to questions from Senator Palwasha Khan, he said citizens frequently shared passport and CNIC details via WhatsApp, which could contribute to data leaks. Senator Talha Mahmood alleged that NADRA had issued identity cards to Afghan nationals and individuals linked to terrorism. The DG passports said the cited case related to 2023, and that NADRA and the passport office had since implemented technological improvements.
Senator Afnanullah claimed that updated personal data of all Pakistani citizens was available on the dark web. He said databases containing information from NADRA, the Federal Board of Revenue and banks were being sold for as little as Rs500 per individual record, while data for the entire population was being offered for Rs70–80 billion. He told the committee such a breach could not occur without internal involvement.
Committee chair Senator Faisal Saleem Rahman asked whether a formal inquiry had been held. The DG passports said an investigation had been completed and that officials had been removed. Members also raised concerns over the absence of the Sindh inspector general of police, with the chair noting that the committee had not been informed.
Senator Saifullah Abro questioned police performance in Sindh, including action against criminals in riverine areas and recent incidents in which police officers were killed. He called for legislation to ensure police accountability before parliamentary committees.
Following deliberations, the Senate Standing Committee on Interior unanimously approved the PECA amendments and called for stronger data protection measures, clearer procedures for content regulation and enhanced accountability within institutions handling identity records and cyber security.
