DIGITAL PAKISTAN MONITOR – June 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. 6 – June 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
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
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
Cybersecurity body urges cautious use of social media
Date: June 6, 2025 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Pakistan Today
The National Computer Emergency Response Team (PK-CERT) issued an advisory urging citizens to use social media responsibly while remaining vigilant against increasing cyber threats.
Content creator allowed pre-arrest bail
Date: June 13, 2025 – Source: Dawn
A sessions court in Lahore granted pre-arrest bail to a YouTube content creator in a case involving alleged blasphemy and cybercrime, directing the police not to arrest him until the next hearing.
Date: June 21, 2025 – Source: The News
Media organizations, fact-checkers, technology platforms, and artificial intelligence (AI) developers must unite in effort to identify, flag, and curtail the spread of online misinformation. Equally important is fostering education and media literacy, enabling citizens to critically evaluate the information they encounter.
Government cracks down on IMEI tampering, unauthorized SIM issuance
Date: June 21, 2025 – Source: Express Tribune
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), in coordination with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), intensified action against mobile phone shops engaging in illegal IMEI tampering and unauthorized SIM issuance.
Cybersecurity drive launched for Pakistan’s financial sector
Date: June 22, 2025 – Source: Dawn
The National Institute of Banking and Finance (NIBAF) and Risk Associates (RA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to boost cybersecurity and regulatory compliance in Pakistan’s financial services sector.
More and improved surveillance
Date: June 22, 2025 – Source: The News
Not everyone welcomes increased street surveillance. The Aurat March Foundation (AMF) criticized the Safe City system, calling it a breach of privacy that creates a sense of constant monitoring – particularly for women and vulnerable groups – turning public spaces into zones of control and discomfort.
AI safeguards: National security issue
Date: June 23, 2025 – Source: Dawn
Pakistan’s artificial intelligence (AI) and digital policies are not designed for military crisis. They have no provisions for response protocol during conflict-induced narrative attacks. And, critically, no institutional architecture to coordinate civilian, defense and media responses to digital conflict.
Search panel to appoint Digital Authority members
Date: June 27, 2025 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Pakistan Today
In a move to operationalize the Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA), the federal government constituted a Search and Selection Committee to appoint the chairperson and two members of the authority.
SECTION 4: Digitalization
- Digitalization in governance sectors / e-governance
- Digitalization in social and development sectors
- Digitalization in business and commercial sectors
Date: June 1, 2025 – Source: Dawn
The federal government must check its enthusiasm. The speed with which it is moving on cryptocurrency adoption has created a sharp disconnect between existing state-level policies on crypto assets and plans unveiled by the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC).
Date: June 1, 2025 – Source: The News
Pakistan cannot afford to conflate reserve management with speculative ventures. No central bank in the world holds Bitcoin as a reserve for good reason: it is volatile, politically entangled and financially unstable.
IMF seeks explanation on Bitcoin, AI initiatives
Date: June 1, 2025 – Source: Express Tribune
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) sought an explanation from the federal government for not taking it into confidence while setting aside 2,000 megawatts of electricity for Bitcoin mining and artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives.
Government working on crypto framework aligned with FATF policies, says PM’s aide
Date: June 2, 2025 – Source 1: The News, Source 2: The Pakistan Daily
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) Bilal Bin Saqib stated that the federal government was formulating a digital currency regulatory framework aligned with the policies of Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global body that combats terrorist financing and money laundering.
Mobile tower outsourcing comes
Date: June 2, 2025 – Source: Express Tribune
After years of efforts, Pakistan’s largest mobile network operator (MNO) successfully cleared all regulatory hurdles to transfer ownership of its mobile towers to a specialized tower company.
Pakistan takes a step closer to crypto regulation with new technical committee
Date: June 3, 2025 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Pakistan Today
The Ministry of Finance confirmed that the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) will form a technical committee tasked with reviewing and shaping the country’s regulatory framework for digital and virtual assets.
Senate panel wants PCC under IT ministry
Date: June 3, 2025 – Source: Dawn
The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology (IT) and Telecommunication recommended that the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) be placed under the federal Ministry for Information Technology instead of the Ministry of Finance.
Committee tasked with digitizing fuel payments
Date: June 4, 2025 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Pakistan Today
The federal government established a seven-member committee tasked with finalizing a plan for digitizing payments at fuel stations. The initiative is a key part of the government’s efforts to reduce cash transactions in favor of digital payments.
Digital payment mode at cattle markets to benefit buyers
Date: June 5, 2025 – Source: Dawn
With the establishment of digital payment systems, the chances of monetary fraud and pickpocketing have been reduced at the cattle markets, and it is expected that banks too would establish their card scanning mechanism to reduce cash handling in crowded cattle markets.
Pakistan, US discuss Bitcoin integration into financial frameworks
Date: June 5, 2025 – Source: The News
Pakistan’s Minister of State for Crypto Bilal Bin Saqib and the executive director of the United States Council on Digital Assets discussed strategies on digital assets and explored the integration of Bitcoin into broader financial frameworks.
Date: June 10, 2025 – Source: The News
If Pakistan is to be serious about financial modernization and crypto, it must first be serious about constitutional modernization. It must remember that law is not a suggestion. It is the lifeblood of a republic, and no amount of clarification can substitute for legislation.
Freelancers send $400 million, quietly powering Pakistan’s digital economy
Date: June 10, 2025 – Source 1: The News, Source 2: Mettis Global
Pakistan’s freelancers sent $400 million to the country during the first nine months fiscal year 2024-2025, playing a growing role in strengthening the digital economy.
Experts warn against taxing digital freelancers, content creators
Date: June 10, 2025 – Source: Express Tribune
Pakistan’s freelance community voiced opposition to proposed taxation in the upcoming federal budget targeting freelancers and content creators, including YouTubers, vloggers, and TikTokers urging the government to prioritize foreign exchange inflows and economic inclusion instead.
Date: June 10, 2025 – Source: Express Tribune
The artificial intelligence (AI) presents an opportunity, but a profound challenge too. If Pakistan fails to act with vision and urgency, it risks being economically and strategically sidelined in a world where AI is rapidly becoming the defining force of progress.
Budget 2025-26: Government earmarks Rs4.8bn for science and technology
Date: June 11, 2025 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Daily Times
The federal government earmarked Rs4.79 billion for the Science and Technological Research Division under the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) for 2025-2026 with the funding directed toward 24 ongoing projects.
New taxes to make online shopping costlier in Pakistan
Date: June 11, 2025 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: The News
The federal government proposed to introduce new taxes on local and foreign e-commerce marketplaces, making online shopping costlier for Pakistani customers. Moreover, the Finance Bill proposed a tax on social media advertising in Pakistan by foreign e-commerce platforms.
Youth preferring to shop and earn online taxed
Date: June 11, 2025 – Source: Express Tribune
In an unusual move, the federal government proposed to extract Rs64 billion in the next fiscal year by taxing the digital, online platforms as well as courier services, which may discourage digitalization of the economy and youth of the country.
Punjab launches country’s first virtual blood bank
Date: June 12, 2025 – Source: The News
On the direction of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Pakistan’s first Virtual Blood Bank (VBB) was established in Punjab. Patients in need of blood will now be able to call an emergency helpline and get connected to representation from the blood bank for prompt assistance.
Industry stakeholders urge withdrawal of taxes on IT, digital services
Date: June 12, 2025 – Source: Express Tribune
Technology experts and industry stakeholders pleaded for the withdrawal of taxes on the information technology (IT) sector, digital services, and e-commerce to maintain momentum in digital transformation and economic documentation.
Freelancing hub launched in Neelum Valley to empower remote youth
Date: June 13, 2025 – Source: Dawn
The Special Communications Organization (SCO) launched a digital freelancing hub in the upper Neelum Valley to empower youth in remote and underdeveloped areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) with opportunities aligned with the demands of the digital age.
Telecommunication operator to pay Rs22 billion after court verdict
Date: June 13, 2025 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Express Tribune, Source 3: Pakistan Today
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) upheld the Federal Bureau of Revenue’s (FBR) jurisdiction to levy taxes on high-value intra-group transactions. The verdict compels a telecommunication operator to pay Rs22 billion ($78 million) in taxes on gains from the transfer of its tower assets.
Digital evidence now considered primary one, holds Supreme Court
Date: June 13, 2025 – Source: The News
The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) held, during proceedings of the Noor Muqadam murder case, that digital evidence would now be considered primary evidence in judicial proceedings, noting that if close-circuit television footage meets the required standard, it does not need further authentication.
Ministers discuss e-commerce tax reforms as sector nears $8 billion
Date: June 13, 2025 – Source: The News
Following discussions, federal minister for commerce and information technology proposed revisions to Pakistan’s e-commerce taxation framework, aiming to ease compliance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and support the sector’s continued growth.
Pakistan’s first open data portal launched
Date: June 13, 2025 – Source 1: The News, Source 2: Express Tribune, Source 3: Business Recorder (BR)
The federal minister for planning launched the National Open Data Portal, which would serve as a central platform for public access to government datasets across vital sectors such as healthcare, education, economy, environment, infrastructure, and demographics.
Parliamentary panel okays cash withdrawal hike, rejects online sales tax
Date: June 14, 2025 – Source: Dawn
The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue approved an increase in the minimum threshold for daily cash withdrawals and rejected a separate proposal to impose an additional 2 per cent sales tax on online purchases.
Supreme Court reviews progress on digital transformation
Date: June 15, 2025 – Source: Dawn
The Supreme Court (SC) intensified its push for digital transformation through an ambitious information technology (IT) reform agenda, targeting greater efficiency, transparency, and public accessibility. A review meeting evaluated progress under the Reform Action Plan Monitoring and Coordination Matrix.
Pakistan showcases growing IT potential at Washington technology event
Date: June 21, 2025 – Source 1: Express Tribune, Source 2: The Nation, Source 3: Pakistan Today
The embassy of Pakistan in Washington DC hosted the final sequence of Pakistan-US Tech Investment Conference 2025, drawing a reportedly significant turnoutof information technology (IT) firms, tech executives, business leaders, and entrepreneurs.
Asian Development Bank approves plan for digital overhaul of DISCOs
Date: June 22, 2025 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Pakistan Today
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved technical assistance to help Pakistan modernize its power distribution companies (DISCOs) through the adoption of smart technologies aimed at improving operational efficiency and service reliability.
Prime Minister orders bodies to promote cashless economy
Date: June 24, 2025 – Source: Dawn
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the formation of three specialized committees – the Digital Payments Innovation and Adoption Committee, the Digital Public Infrastructure Committee, and the Government Payments Committee – to promote a cashless economy across the country.
Three major Pakistan airports to get e-gates
Date: June 25, 2025 – Source: Express Tribune
The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) decided to install electronic gates (e-gates) at all three major airports of the country – the Karachi airport, the Lahore airport and the Islamabad airport. The e-gates to be installed will simplify and speed up immigration process for international passengers.
Pakistan’s aquifers in the AI era
Date: June 26, 2025 – Source: The News
Pakistan has made a bold move toward the digital economy by allocating 2,000 megawatts of electricity for artificial intelligence (AI) data centers and Bitcoin mining. These facilities are notoriously resource-intensive, especially in their heavy consumption of water for cooling and backup systems.
PTA chief visits Telenor headquarters in Norway to explore future-ready telecom advancements
Date: June 26, 2025 – Source 1: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Source 2: Express Tribune
Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Hafeezur Rehman paid an official visit to the headquarters of Telenor Group in Norway during his participation in the UN Internet Governance Forum, as part of discussions around digital transformation and telecommunication sector regulation.
Pakistan’s tech talent is ready
Date: June 27, 2025 – Source: The News
Pakistan’s information technology (IT) exports exceeded $2.6 billion in fiscal year 2022-23, reflecting a rapid growth in a now key export sector. Over 500,000 professionals work across digital services, with 25,000 IT graduates entering the workforce each year – forming a talent pool poised to compete regionally with the right support.
Homegrown satellite imagery tool wins top Google prize
Date: June 30, 2025 – Source: Dawn
The development of Geo Gamma – an open-source Large Language Model (LLM) integrated with Google Earth Engine – by two Pakistani university students in Islamabad won the ‘Best AI Use Case’ award at the Asia-Pacific Solution Challenge, jointly organized by Google and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Prime Minister unveils application for self-meter reading
Date: June 30, 2025 – Source: Express Tribune
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launched the Apna Meter, Apna Reading smart mobile application, a new initiative designed to enhance transparency in electricity billing. The application enables consumers to record their own meter readings and submit them directly to their respective distribution companies.
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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.
