Four months after its formation, Pakistan’s newly created social media watchdog is still unable to function. The Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority (SMPRA) has a chairman and board members in place, but no budget, no office, and no staff — leaving it unable to carry out the sweeping powers granted to it by law.
Officials familiar with the matter say SMPRA has formally requested funds from the Ministry of Finance to cover its operational costs. Budget approval, they said, is the first step needed before the authority can rent office space, hire employees, and set up a working secretariat. Until that happens, SMPRA cannot begin registering platforms, processing complaints, or enforcing any of its regulatory powers.
Why the Regulator Is Still Idle
According to officials, three things are holding SMPRA back:
- No approved budget — funding requests are still pending with the Ministry of Finance
- No physical office or secretariat — required to house staff and run daily operations
- No recruited staff — hiring cannot begin until funds are released
The authority is reportedly using this waiting period to finalize its internal rules and regulations, which will govern how it processes complaints, issues takedown orders, and interacts with social media companies. Officials say SMPRA will only start exercising its legal powers once its financial and administrative setup is complete.
Adding to the delay, the tribunal meant to operate alongside SMPRA — which would hear appeals against the authority’s decisions — has also not yet been established. Both bodies remain in what officials describe as the “implementation phase.”
Background: How SMPRA Came to Be
SMPRA was created under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025 (PECA), which Parliament passed in January 2025. It took more than a year for the authority to actually be formed — the federal government notified its creation only in March 2026, when the Ministry of Interior appointed Islamabad Advocate General Ayaz Shaukat as chairman for a five-year term, alongside five members: Sohail Iqbal Bhatti, Adnan Khan, Muhammad Salman Zafar, Fahad Malik, and Muhammad Saad Ali. The authority is designed to eventually have eight members in total and will be headquartered in Islamabad, functioning as a corporate body with the legal standing to sue and be sued in its own name.
What Powers SMPRA Will Have Once Operational
Under PECA, SMPRA is intended to regulate major platforms operating in Pakistan, including Facebook, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok. Its mandate includes:
- Requiring local and foreign social media companies to register with the authority
- Monitoring online content and addressing cyberbullying, harassment, and digital fraud
- Ordering platforms to remove illegal or harmful content within 24 to 48 hours
- Imposing fines of up to Rs. 500 million on platforms that violate the law
- Recommending the blocking of platforms that repeatedly fail to comply
Separately, the broader PECA amendment also introduced criminal penalties — up to three years in prison and fines of up to Rs. 2 million — for individuals who spread false or misleading information likely to cause fear or unrest, though enforcement of that provision falls outside SMPRA’s direct fining power.
Context: A Law Still Facing Scrutiny
Since it was passed, the PECA amendment has drawn criticism from journalist unions, digital rights groups, and some technology companies, who argue that terms like “harmful” or “unlawful” content are too broadly defined and could be used to restrict legitimate speech. Supporters of the law counter that it is necessary to curb disinformation, harassment, and fraud on platforms that currently operate in Pakistan with little local accountability. That debate is likely to resurface once SMPRA becomes fully operational and begins issuing its first orders.
What Happens Next
For now, SMPRA exists on paper but not in practice. Officials say the authority will move to hire staff, secure office space, and finalize its regulatory framework as soon as the Ministry of Finance releases funding. Until then, social media platforms operating in Pakistan face no new registration requirements or enforcement actions under the law — despite it having been on the books since early 2025.
Quick Facts: SMPRA at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority |
| Established Under | PECA Amendment Act, 2025 |
| Law Passed | January 2025 |
| Authority Formed | March 2026 |
| Chairman | Ayaz Shaukat (5-year term) |
| Board Members | 5 currently notified; 8 total planned |
| Headquarters | Islamabad |
| Max Fine on Platforms | Rs. 500 million |
| Content Takedown Window | 24–48 hours |
| Current Status | Non-operational — no budget, office, or staff |
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