Minister of State for IT and Telecom, Shiza Fatima, addressed journalists in Parliament, affirming that Pakistan has no restrictions on social media despite the ongoing Twitter ban. She clarified that the ban is due to Twitter’s “exceptionally liberal policies” rather than general social media restrictions.
On the topic of government downsizing, Fatima clarified that the Ministry of IT and Telecom will not be abolished but rather downsized. She explained, “We will eliminate unnecessary organizations, and if needed, new ones will be established,” in response to the Prime Minister’s directives.
Fatima declined to comment on the specifics of the firewall used to control social media but confirmed that discussions with Twitter are ongoing. She highlighted that Facebook and TikTok remain the most popular social platforms in Pakistan.
