Will restore ‘X’ when the govt directs: chairman PTA

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Hafeezur Rehmanon Thursday told the Senate’s Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat that they would lift the ban on social media platform ‘X’, formerly known as Twitter when the government asks them to.

The Senate’s Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat held a meeting chaired by Rana Mahmood-ul-Hassan, during which PTA Chairman Hafeezur Rehman provided a briefing on internet and telecommunications matters.

The PTA Chairman reported that 56 per cent of the population in the country has access to the Internet. He also mentioned that the satellite policy has been finalised, and the 5G auction is anticipated to occur in March or April of next year.

Additionally, mobile services were suspended four times last year, including during Muharram, on May 9, and during the elections.

Since February 17, 2024, X has been inaccessible in Pakistan unless a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is used, though there are occasional instances when it is accessible without one.

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