ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) - A meeting of the National Assembly of Pakistan Standing Committee on Information Technology was held to discuss the issue of the alleged shutdown of the firewall used to regulate social media platforms.
During the session, committee member Sadiq Memon questioned whether the firewall had been removed prior to the upcoming 5G spectrum auction.
Responding to the query, Secretary IT and Telecom Zarrar Hasham denied the removal of the firewall, stating that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority Web Management System is fully operational. He clarified that neither the firewall nor the web management system causes any technological delays.
The Chairman of PTA further explained that it is not a firewall but the authority’s Web Management System that has been operational since 2006 and has undergone four updates, with the most recent upgrade completed in 2023.
According to the PTA chief, the implementation of the system has significantly reduced grey traffic and provides the capability to block social media platforms when required. He noted that the platform X was blocked under the system on government directives, and that seven different platforms have been suspended so far on government and court orders.
He emphasized that the Web Management System does not slow down technology or cause delays, adding that safeguarding digital borders is essential. During past Pakistan-India tensions, cyberattacks originating from India were successfully thwarted through this system, he said.