ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Information Technology, Shiza Fatima, has clarified that the platform X (formerly Twitter) was banned in Pakistan following instructions from the Ministry of Interior. She stated that less than 2% of people in Pakistan use X, and the ban does not mean a restriction on freedom of speech.
Fatima emphasized that the decision was made due to the increasing number of cyberattacks on the country, with hundreds of cyberattacks happening daily. She explained that cybersecurity is a critical need, and the Ministry of Interior, through the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), issues instructions when security concerns arise.
She also pointed out that freedom of expression remains intact on other digital platforms like YouTube and Facebook. According to Fatima, broadband services are fully operational across the country, and no internet services, including broadband, have been shut down. She also mentioned that the number of mobile towers in Pakistan is still insufficient, but efforts are underway to improve coverage.
She stated that less than 2% of people in Pakistan use X, and the ban does not mean a restriction on freedom of speech.
Fatima concluded by stating that the IT industry has seen significant growth this year compared to the previous one, highlighting the progress in the sector.