Pakistan has blocked more than one million web links and URLs after a nationwide crackdown on illegal digital content, according to a detailed report submitted by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to the Lahore High Court. The action reflects intensified regulatory oversight aimed at controlling harmful online material across multiple platforms.
The report revealed that social media platforms faced the highest level of scrutiny, with Facebook and TikTok accounting for the largest share of blocked content due to repeated violations. Authorities reviewed hundreds of thousands of links, removing material considered illegal, inappropriate, or against national laws and court directives.
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On Facebook, regulators examined around two hundred twenty nine thousand links and blocked nearly one hundred ninety seven thousand, while Instagram saw thirty eight thousand blocks out of forty three thousand reviewed. Similarly, TikTok faced strict enforcement, with more than one hundred sixty three thousand videos removed from reviewed links.
TikTok experienced the toughest action overall, as officials blocked approximately ninety four percent of the illegal content identified on the platform. In comparison, YouTube had over sixty four thousand links blocked, while X recorded the lowest removal rate despite reviewing more than one hundred twelve thousand links.
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Beyond major platforms, authorities reviewed nearly nine hundred thousand links on other websites, blocking almost all of them for serious violations. These included contempt of court, obscenity, proxy use, hate speech, anti religious material, and content targeting state institutions and national security.
The report highlighted that obscene and immoral material topped the list, exceeding one million blocked links, while content linked to defamation and fake identities recorded the lowest enforcement rate. Overall, officials described the effort as a necessary step to ensure safer digital spaces.