The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has blocked 184 websites and mobile applications linked to online gambling and betting, the Cabinet Division informed the National Assembly on August 6.
The information, presented in a written reply, stated that the blocking was carried out after receiving complaints from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and members of the public. The Cabinet Division clarified that legal proceedings against individuals involved in such activities do not fall under the PTA’s mandate.
The federal government has also directed all relevant bodies, including Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), PTA, and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), to avoid entering into any form of agreement with companies engaged in betting or gambling. According to the response, any reported online presence of these entities is promptly blocked, while cases that require further investigation are referred to the FIA.
The reply noted that complaints about financial losses through such platforms have been received. The PTA processes blocking requests after validation and has developed multiple reporting channels for government institutions and the general public. An online e-portal, established under the Removal and Blocking of Unlawful Online Content Rules 2021, is currently being used by 51 stakeholder organizations, including law enforcement agencies, provincial home departments, ministries, regulatory bodies, and the armed forces.
The PTA stated that it continues to conduct awareness campaigns through seminars, TV programs, social media, and SMS services to discourage the use of unlawful online content.
Earlier, the authority issued an advisory warning users not to share prohibited online material. It reiterated that while freedom of expression is a constitutional right, posting or promoting unlawful content will not be tolerated. It listed blasphemous material, insults to religion or prophets, incitement to violence, hate speech, propaganda against state institutions, obscene or immoral content, and fake news as offenses under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016.
