Google’s compliance with Pakistani regulations has reached 88 percent, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Maj Gen (retd) Hafeez Ur Rehman said Thursday.
He made the remarks at the launch of Google’s “Digital Pasban” program, an online safety initiative aimed at protecting children on digital platforms. The event brought together PTA officials and Google representatives in Islamabad.
How PTA Tracks Platform Compliance
Hafeez Ur Rehman said the PTA receives around 500 social media-related complaints every day.
He said the authority holds in-person meetings with social media companies every two months. He personally takes part in weekly online meetings with company representatives to discuss Pakistani laws and regulatory requirements, he added.
According to the PTA chairman, this regular contact with technology platforms has helped improve compliance with local rules. He did not detail how the 88 percent figure is calculated or over what time period it applies.
The PTA has previously cited compliance figures for individual platforms. In October 2024, the chairman said X’s compliance stood at around 27 percent, compared with roughly 93 percent for other social media platforms. It is not clear whether that measurement method is the same one used to arrive at Google’s 88 percent figure.
Broader Connectivity Push
Hafeez Ur Rehman also pointed to recent steps to expand Pakistan’s digital infrastructure.
He referenced the country’s spectrum auction in March, in which the government sold 480 MHz of spectrum out of roughly 595 MHz on offer, raising $507 million. Telecom operators Jazz, Zong and Ufone acquired the frequencies. PTA officials have described it as the largest spectrum sale in the country’s history.
The chairman said rapid technological change means Pakistan’s regulatory framework must keep evolving alongside it.
Concerns Over Children’s Online Safety
The PTA chairman raised concerns about children’s growing use of digital platforms.
He said children today spend more time indoors and online compared with previous generations. He called for stronger cooperation between parents, regulators and technology companies to address the risks that come with it.
Hafeez Ur Rehman said creating safer online spaces for children would require sustained collaboration between families and regulatory bodies, alongside efforts to promote more responsible social media use in Pakistan.
Key Figures From the Announcement
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Google’s compliance rate (PTA) | 88% |
| Daily social media complaints received by PTA | ~500 |
| Spectrum sold in March 2026 auction | 480 MHz |
| Families targeted for Digital Pasban training | 200,000 |
Background: Digital Pasban and the PTA-Google MoU
Digital Pasban is a Google-led program that will train an estimated 200,000 families on the company’s online safety tools, according to Google Pakistan cluster director Farhan Qureshi, who spoke at the launch.
Separately, PTA and Google signed a memorandum of understanding on child online safety. Under the agreement, the two organizations will run a Child Safety Program focused on awareness, education and capacity-building for parents, teachers and caregivers.
The program includes safety content in English, Urdu and other local languages, training sessions in schools, and a nationwide outreach campaign. PTA said the collaboration reflects a shared commitment with Google to strengthen digital awareness for families across Pakistan.
Google’s Wider Push Into Pakistan
Thursday’s announcements follow Google’s formal opening of its first Pakistan office on August 18 in Islamabad. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated the office and hosted a Google delegation led by Vice President of Global Affairs and Public Policy Wilson White.
At that event, Sharif said Google had contributed more than Rs. 3.9 trillion to Pakistan’s economy over the past decade and supported over 960,000 jobs, according to figures he cited. He said the company’s expansion supports Pakistan’s goal of reaching $30 billion in annual IT exports.
Google has also expanded other initiatives in Pakistan this year, including a digital-skills program that brought its total Google Career Certificates issued in the country to 350,000 as of mid-July.
PTA has not said whether it plans to publish a breakdown of how Google’s compliance rate is measured, or whether similar figures will be released for other major platforms operating in Pakistan.
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