PTA Blocks 5,175 CSAM Websites in Crackdown on Online Child Exploitation

By Tanveer Ahmed :

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has blocked 5,175 websites hosting Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) as part of ongoing efforts to protect minors in the digital space.

The action was confirmed by Minister for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja in a written reply submitted to the Senate.

Over One Million URLs Blocked

Under Section 37 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 (PECA), the PTA has blocked or removed more than one million URLs containing immoral or indecent content accessible within Pakistan.

The regulator worked in coordination with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), including its Interpol desk, to identify and restrict websites distributing CSAM.

Awareness and Preventive Measures

The minister noted that no nationwide study has been conducted in the past three years to evaluate the social and mental health impact of online platforms on children. However, she said the PTA and the Ministry of IT have adopted regulatory, enforcement and awareness measures to improve digital safety.

In collaboration with UNICEF Pakistan, Telenor Pakistan, GSMA, TikTok and the Higher Education Commission (HEC), the PTA has launched several initiatives.

These include publishing a guidebook titled Safeguarding Your Child in the Digital Age, establishing a nationwide toll-free helpline (1121) for reporting child abuse, and conducting “Train the Trainer” programmes in 100 government schools. The initiative has reached more than 12,500 parents, teachers and students.

Platform Responsibilities

Shaza Fatima clarified that age verification systems, account registration controls and parental control features are managed directly by social media platforms in line with international standards. The PTA’s role, she said, is to ensure enforcement and compliance under PECA regulations.

The measures form part of Pakistan’s broader efforts to combat online child exploitation and strengthen digital safety frameworks nationwide.

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