DIGITAL PAKISTAN MONITOR – April 2025
A monthly report on trends relating to digital rights, policies, practices & media
Tracking: Internet and digital policies and regulations
Digitalization in governance and socio-economic domains
Digital rights violations and protections
Digital rights advocacy and defense
Digital media and online free speech
Vol. 6, No. 4 – April 2025 Edition
Produced by Freedom Network – www.fnpk.org
SECTION 1: Internet and digital policies and regulations
- Federal and provincial governments (ministries and departments)
- Internet regulators
- Media regulators
- Telecom regulators
- Internet access / connectivity
‘High-cost’ Starlink not an immediate threat to Pakistan’s telecommunication operators
Date: April 3, 2025 – Source: Dawn
As the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) prepares to grant Starlink final approval to launch in country, uncertainty and apprehensions loom over the telecommunications sector. With speculation abound, all four operators in Pakistan agree that the immediate future remains unpredictable.
Regulatory approval for Starlink services awaited, NA body told
Date: April 8, 2025 – Source: Dawn
Federal Minister for Information Technology (IT) Shaza Fatima, during a meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on IT and Telecommunication, clarified that Starlink had been granted only a provisional license to offer satellite-based internet services in the country.
CCP set to grant approval of Telenor-PTCL merger
Date: April 9, 2025 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Pakistan Today
With the intervention of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) started to move towards granting approval for the merger of Telenor Pakistan (TP) with the Pakistan Telecommunications Company Limited (PTCL).
PTA grants licenses to VPN service providers
Date: April 19, 2025 – Source: The News
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) commenced the licensing of virtual private network (VPN) service providers under the Class License for the Provision of Data Services in Pakistan.
Delay in nod for merger with Telenor irks PTCL
Date: April 22, 2025 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Pakistan Today, Source 3: Business Recorder (BR)
Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) President Hatem Bamatraf voiced concerns over the delay by the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) in approving the proposed PTCL-Telenor Pakistan merger, warning that continued inaction risks derailing the deal and its financial framework.
China Mobile seeks new data, connectivity ventures in Pakistan
Date: April 22, 2025 – Source: Express Tribune
A China Mobile Communications Corporation (CMCC) delegation met with Shaza Khawaja, the Federal Minister for Information Technology, and reaffirmed their interest in collaboration in key development areas including energy-efficient data centers and 5G connectivity development.
SECTION 2: Digital rights advocacy and defense
- Pakistan-based citizens and civil society organizations
- Independent international digital rights organizations
- UN and global multilateral organizations
- Governmental and other sources
Bridging the divide: Pakistan’s path to inclusive digital growth
Date: April 22, 2025 – Source: Business Recorder (BR)
To bridge the rural-urban divide, Pakistan must address infrastructure gaps, expand internet access, attract foreign direct investment (FDI), eliminate bureaucratic inefficiencies, and launch comprehensive digital literacy programs.
Punjab launches PERA with focus on female empowerment and digital governance
Date: April 23, 2025 – Source: The News
The Punjab government is setting a precedent in governance and law enforcement with the launch of the Punjab Enforcement Regulatory Authority (PERA), placing women at the heart of this province-wide institutional transformation.
Federal minister for full gender inclusion in Pakistan’s digital future
Date: April 25, 2025 – Source: The News
Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja underscored that technological advancement and national progress were unattainable without “full gender inclusion”.
SECTION 3: Digital rights violations and protections
- Citizens and netizens – including case studies
- Media, journalists and other information practitioners
- Online free speech
- Online access to information
- Privacy violations
- Data protection
- Surveillance
- Misinformation / disinformation / fake news
- Cybercrime
FIA, cybercrime agencies usher in new leadership
Date: April 5, 2025 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: The Nation
The federal government appointed Riffat Mukhtar, a Grade-21 officer of the Police Service of Pakistan (PSP), as the new Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). Simultaneously, Waqar-ud-din Syed, a Grade-20 officer of the PSP, was named the Director General of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).
Cop briefly detained under PECA over social media post
Date: April 5, 2025 – Source 1: The News, Source 2: Express Tribune, Source 3: Pakistan Today
Karachi police registered a case against Station Investigation Officer (SIO) Abrar Shah following allegations that he posted an indecent comment about President Asif Ali Zardari on social media.
Formation of NCCIA, an innovative step to check cyber threats
Date: April 6, 2025 – Source: The News
Pakistan established the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in response to the escalating sophistication of cyber threats. The agency is poised to spearhead the country’s efforts in combating cybercrime, ensuring the protection of digital infrastructure.
Pakistani musician booked under PECA law
Date: April 8, 2025 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: The News, Source 3: Express Tribune
The Punjab Police booked musician and former Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) member Salman Ahmad under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) for allegedly sharing content against state institutions and figures online.
Content creator arrested for ‘humiliating police uniform’
Date: April 19, 2025 – Source: Dawn
The Punjab Police arrested TikTok content creator Kashif Zameer from Murree on multiple charges, including “humiliating” the police uniform and sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).
Pakistan’s digital future hinges on data governance reforms
Date: April 24, 2025 – Source 1: Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SPDI), Source 2: The News
At a policy dialogue hosted by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SPDI), experts underscored the urgent need for unified and robust data protection legislation in Pakistan. They emphasized that legal frameworks were essential to curb data misuse and ensure responsible governance.
Date: April 24, 2025 – Source: Express Tribune
The figures are telling: in 2024 alone, the Banking Mohtasib Pakistan resolved 27,753 fraud and banking complaints, securing Rs1.65 billion in relief – surpassing the Rs1.26 billion disbursed in 2023. This sharp increase highlights a troubling surge in digital fraud nationwide.
Movement of criminals, high-risk individuals in Punjab to be monitored digitally
Date: April 25, 2025 – Source: Dawn
In a move to enhance surveillance of high-risk individuals, the Punjab Home Department said that habitual criminals and terror suspects listed in the Fourth Schedule will now be required to wear electronic tracking devices for round-the-clock monitoring.
Rights activist booked under PECA for ‘supporting BYC’
Date: April 28, 2025 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Online Indus
The Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) registered a case against lawyer and human rights activist Jalila Haider under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), accusing her of endorsing the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) and disseminating misinformation.
SECTION 4: Digitalization
- Digitalization in governance sectors / e-governance
- Digitalization in social and development sectors
- Digitalization in business and commercial sectors
Punjab launches forests’ surveillance system
Date: April 4, 2025 – Source 1: The News, Source 2: Express Tribune, Source 3: Business Recorder (BR)
The Punjab government launched thermal imaging technology for round the clock satellite monitoring of forests. This advanced system will enable real-time detection of forest fires, illegal tree cutting, and other unauthorized activities.
SUPARCO invites proposals for first spaceflight mission
Date: April 5, 2025 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: The News, Source 3: Times of Karachi (TOK)
The Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) called upon scientists, researchers, and students to participate in Pakistan’s inaugural human spaceflight mission.
Punjab digitalizes system for prison remission data
Date: April 5, 2025 – Source 1: The News, Source 2: Express Tribune, Source 3: The Nation
In an effort to ensure transparency and efficiency in the prison system, the Punjab Home Department digitalized prisoner remission records and launched a new SMS service that allows families to check the release date of inmates.
Young Pakistani introduces smart tools to bridge AI gap for millions of Sindhis worldwide
Date: April 5, 2025 – Source: Arab News
While working on an artificial intelligence (AI) system, Fahad Qazi encountered a gap: the absence of text-to-speech (TTS) and speech-to-text (STT) models for the Sindhi language. Motivated by this challenge, he embarked on creating these systems to serve the 40 million speakers of Sindhi worldwide.
Attock to get new information technology park
Date: April 6, 2025 – Source: Dawn
A delegation from the non-profit Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) unveiled plans to develop an information technology (IT) park and provide educational institutions in Attock district with IT laboratories.
The imperative of futuristics for Pakistan
Date: April 6, 2025 – Source: The News
In an era defined by rapid global transformation, the science of futuristics – the study of anticipating and preparing for future possibilities – holds immense value for Pakistan. Futuristics would offer Pakistan a lens to foresee and shape its destiny amid geopolitical flux and global climate trends.
Government-procured Chromebooks develop faults
Date: April 7, 2025 – Source: Dawn
Several educational institutions in Islamabad raised concerns over the malfunctioning of numerous Chromebooks, distributed by the federal government, which were found to be defective even before being utilized by students.
Binance founder joins Pakistan’s crypto council as advisor
Date: April 8, 2025 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Binance, Source 3: Al Jazeera
Pakistan announced that Changpeng Zhao, the founder of Binance – the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world – had joined the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) as its strategic advisor.
Pakistan’s startups raise over $1 billion in a decade
Date: April 8, 2025 – Source: Express Tribune
According to Invest2Innovate (i2i), Pakistan’s startups have attracted over $1 billion in funding through 386 deals signed by their owners and founders with investors, venture capitalists, and various financial institutions in a decade.
Date: April 9, 2025 – Source: Express Tribune
Digital Pakistan Policy 2018, though a well-intentioned initiative by the federal government, lacked a clear roadmap. It failed to articulate concrete policy objectives, outline legislative and infrastructural strategies and identify key socioeconomic sectors for digitalization.
Date: April 10, 2025 – Source: Dawn
In a major win for Pakistan’s crypto ambitions, the finance ministry enlisted Changpeng Zhao as a strategic advisor to the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC). Zhao co-founded Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume.
Date: April 10, 2025 – Source: The News
To harness the potential of artificial intelligence (AI), Pakistan must confront its deep-rooted challenges in education and employment. While AI promises to generate new roles, these will largely favor a highly skilled and specialized workforce.
FTO takes notice of FBR’s failure to make policy on cryptocurrency
Date: April 10, 2025 – Source 1: The News, Source 2: Business Recorder (BR)
The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) criticized the Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) for its inaction and ambiguity on cryptocurrency taxation. The FTO urged swift measures to integrate digital asset transactions into Pakistan’s tax framework.
Supreme Court ruling calls for regulated AI role in courts
Date: April 12, 2025 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: The News, Source 3: Business Recorder (BR)
The Supreme Court (SC) emphasized the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline judicial system, reduce delays, improve case management and expand legal knowledge – but urged a cautious and ethically grounded approach to its integration.
FBR notifies four firms to facilitate digital registration of retailers
Date: April 12, 2025 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Pakistan Today
The Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) officially appointed four companies to facilitate the legal registration of retailers under its Digital Invoice System (DIS), urging the integrators to adopt an efficient and responsive system to manage integration applications effectively.
Rawalpindi’s administration instructed to link workers’ salaries with biometric attendance
Date: April 12, 2025 – Source: Dawn
The divisional administration asked the district administrations of Rawalpindi’s six districts to link salaries of all government department employees with biometric attendance.
PHC asks government to formulate policy to curb crypto illegal trade
Date: April 12, 2025 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: The News, Source 3: Pakistan Today
The Peshawar High Court (PHC) directed the federal government to formulate a policy within two months on the prevention of illegal trade and transactions involving cryptocurrencies across Pakistan.
Balochistan CM urges AI use for better governance, youth development
Date: April 13, 2025 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: The Nation
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti stressed the importance of leveraging modern technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), to enhance transparency, efficiency, and performance in governance, financial management and youth development initiatives.
‘EdTech’ offers hope amid crisis
Date: April 17, 2025 – Source: Express Tribune
‘EdTech’ is reshaping the future of education in Pakistan by using artificial intelligence (AI) and secure digital tools, leveraging cutting-edge technology to improve the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) preparation process.
Khan Academy, Akhuwat partner to pilot AI-powered teaching assistant
Date: April 18, 2025 – Source: The News
Khan Academy Pakistan (KAP) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Akhuwat, one of Pakistan’s leading nonprofit education networks, to pilot Khanmigo, KAP’s artificial intelligence-powered teaching assistant, at Akhuwat’s schools.
Pakistan’s IT exports surge by 23pc in third quarter of FY2025
Date: April 18, 2025 – Source 1: The News, Source 2: Express Tribune, Source 3: Pakistan Today
Pakistan’s information technology (IT) sector maintained its export growth trend, showing an increase of 23 per cent year-on-year by the end of the third quarter of the current financial year as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal year 2024.
PSW launches e-certification for pharmaceutical exports
Date: April 18, 2025 – Source 1: The News, Source 2: Express Tribune, Source 3: Pakistan Today
The Pakistan Single Window (PSW), in partnership with the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), launched a new digital system to enhance the export competitiveness of the country’s pharmaceuticals sector.
Date: April 19, 2025 – Source: The News
Borderless, open-source, volatile, and decentralized – crypto is a rapidly shifting force reshaping the financial landscape. The pressing dilemma: how do you regulate an entity inherently built to elude oversight and outpace legislation?
CDA smart parking eases traffic, boosts revenue
Date: April 19, 2025 – Source: The News
The Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) Smart Parking System (SPS) across Islamabad’s key commercial areas marks a major shift from manual to tech-based parking management, boosting municipal revenue.
Digital momentum: Raast transactions hit Rs6.4 trillion mark
Date: April 20, 2025 – Source: Dawn
Digital payments are rapidly increasing as Raast transactions surged to Rs6.4 trillion in the second quarter of 2025, according to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
Making crypto safe for the masses
Date: April 21, 2025 – Source: Dawn
The volume of users and the amounts exchanged all point to the fact that cryptocurrency has become a reality in Pakistan. It now needs to be acknowledged and regulated, with rules that cover the genuine concerns of the regulators.
DFDI Forum 2025 puts Pakistan at the forefront of global digital investment
Date: April 22, 2025 – Source: Arab News
Pakistan made history as the first country to launch the Digital FDI initiative, redefining global digital investment norms. Backed by the federal government and the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), the move streamlines capital flow into emerging technology markets.
Punjab rolls out ‘Hawk Eye’ surveillance
Date: April 22, 2025 – Source: Express Tribune
The Punjab Environmental Protection Department launched the Hawk Eye Project, Pakistan’s first aerial surveillance initiative, by establishing a dedicated drone-based monitoring firm.
Pakistan seeks stronger space ties with China
Date: April 23, 2025 – Source 1: Radio Pakistan (RP), Source 2: Express Tribune, Source 3: Arab News
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan was keen to increase cooperation with China in the fields of space technology, space satellites, telecommunication, and satellite internet.
Pakistani astronaut to be part of Chinese space mission
Date: April 24, 2025 – Source: Dawn
Two Pakistani astronauts are set to commence rigorous training in China, as confirmed by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), with one of them anticipated to participate in an upcoming mission to the Tiangong space station.
PTA allows 120-day registration of cellphones for visiting expats
Date: April 26, 2025 – Source 1: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Source 2: The News
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) introduced a Temporary Mobile Registration System (TMRS) to assist overseas Pakistanis and foreign visitors, allowing them to register personal devices for up to 120 days per visit.
Regulations for AI use in banks on the cards
Date: April 27, 2025 – Source: Dawn
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) is finalizing guidelines for the responsible deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) in financial services. Designed to foster transparent and accountability, the framework seems to ensure ethical AI use across the banking sector.
Minister sees opportunities for investment in crypto, fintech
Date: April 27, 2025 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Pakistan Today
Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar highlighted Pakistan’s readiness to enter a new era of growth in crypto and digital finance. He pointed to the nation’s youthful population, dynamic economy, and rising global investor confidence as key drivers.
Date: April 29, 2025 – Source: Dawn
In a landmark ruling in Ishfaq Ahmed vs Mushtaq Ahmed, the Supreme Court (SC) recognized the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in modernizing the judiciary. The judgement called for a cautious yet proactive integration of AI, emphasizing using technology to address inefficiencies.
Scope of digital wallets to be expanded across Pakistan
Date: April 29, 2025 – Source 1: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Source 2: Express Tribune
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that the scope of digital wallets would be broadened across Pakistan, integrating provincial systems into a coordinated national framework for digital payments.
Prime Minister touts $700 million in foreign investment for IT sector
Date: April 30, 2025 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Pakistan Today, Source 3: Business Recorder (BR)
Pakistan secured $700 million in fresh foreign investment pledges for its information technology (IT) sector, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced, as he urged international stakeholders to continue backing the country’s ambitions to become a leading force in the global digital economy.
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OBJECTIVES: This series of monthly report aims to:
- Track developments revolving around the framework of digitalization in Pakistan including policy and advocacy on digital rights, policy enforcements and digital rights violations, covering viewpoints of government, civil society, human rights community including digital rights campaigners, media, citizen journalists and other information practitioners, and regulators of electronic media, internet and telecom sectors, and netizens.
- Monitor the interface between digital rights and Pakistan’s overall legal framework and how developments around them impact freedom of expression and access to information online as well as diversity and pluralism in Pakistan’s digital landscape, cyberspace and internet domains.
- Follow developments around the themes of digital rights, freedom of expression, access to information, privacy, surveillance, data protection, access to internet services, telecom policies, etc.
INFORMATION SOURCES: This report monitors, among others, the following sources of information:
- Government: Federal and provincial cabinets
- Ministries: Related ministries, including Information and Broadcasting, Information Technology (IT) and Telecom, Human Rights, Science and Technology, Commerce and Industry, etc.
- Legislatures: Senate, National Assembly, provincial assemblies, relevant standing committees
- Regulators: Pakistan telecommunications Authority (PTA), Pakistan Electronic Media regulatory Authority (PEMRA), Press Council of Pakistan (PPC), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), etc.
- Global organizations: UN/Unesco, International Media Support (IMS), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Amnesty International (AI), Human Rights Watch (HRW), etc.
- National organizations: Digital Rights Foundation (DRF), BoloBhi, Media Matters for Democracy (MMFD), Institute for Research, Advocacy and Development (IRADA), Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), etc.
- Media: Dawn, The News, Express Tribune, The Nation, Pakistan Today, The Friday Times, etc.
- Social Media:Facebook, Twitter, etc.
- Local networks: Journalists Safety Hubs Network, Alliance on Diversity & Pluralism in Media, etc.
- Research groups: Gallup Pakistan, IPSOS Pakistan, etc.
