Pakistanis accessing 20 million explicit websites daily, PTA reveals

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has reported that Pakistani users are making approximately 20 million daily attempts to access explicit websites, despite extensive government efforts to block such content. This figure highlights a significant challenge in regulating internet access in the country.

The PTA has blocked 844,008 pornographic websites and 100,183 URLs deemed blasphemous as part of its ongoing crackdown on offensive online material. These actions are taken based on reports from citizens and governmental agencies.

According to PTA, many users bypass these restrictions using virtual private networks (VPNs), which are often unregistered. The PTA has noted that these VPNs pose security risks and has initiated measures to block unauthorized services while expediting the registration of legitimate ones.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has expressed alarm over the rising access to pornographic content, emphasizing its negative impact on societal morals and values. The ministry has urged the PTA to intensify efforts to combat this issue, reflecting broader concerns about the influence of such material on youth.

In a letter to the top telecommunication regulator, the Religious Affairs Ministry expressed concerns over Pakistan becoming “one of the leading countries in terms of viewing pornographic content, which is highly alarming, especially in light of its negative impact on public morality and the well-being of our society”.

The PTA continues to monitor web traffic and implement filtering systems designed to handle high volumes of blocked content attempts. Their commitment includes adapting strategies in response to the high use of VPNs among users trying to access restricted sites.