The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has blocked more than 900,000 links to sites with offensive and pornographic content, marking a significant step in its ongoing crackdown on illicit online material.
PTA is intensifying its oversight on platforms disseminating offensive content and implementing measures to restrict access to these sites. This effort includes blocking websites flagged by citizens and governmental bodies.
PTA spokesperson revealed that Pakistan remains one of the top countries for online access attempts to pornographic content.
“Nearly 20 million attempts are blocked daily at the international gateway,” said the spokesperson, adding that VPNs are often used to circumvent these restrictions.
PTA confirmed that it had blocked 100,183 “blasphemous” URLs and 844,008 pornographic websites, based on data from ongoing monitoring efforts.
Despite these efforts, daily access attempts remain high, with around 20 million Pakistani users attempting to access pornographic content, according to PTA figures.
Although many websites are blocked through international gateways, some users bypass these restrictions using virtual private networks (VPNs).
PTA has noted that its systems are designed to handle significant levels of web filtering and has reiterated its commitment to blocking offensive material in coordination with legal and technical support. PTA data shows that the 844,000 pornographic sites have been restricted since 2018.
In response to the high volume of VPN usage, PTA is considering additional strategies to address circumvention of internet filters while remaining aligned with international regulatory standards.
VPNs are commonly used in Pakistan to access X and other restricted websites. In August, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) intensified its efforts to curb VPN use, aiming to restrict access to X, which remains banned in the country.