The Government of Pakistan has officially launched the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority (SMPRA). Consequently, the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control appointed senior lawyer Ayyaz Shaukat as its first Chairman. Section Officer Imran Zafar Janjua signed the official notification on March 18, 2026.
The government established SMPRA under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025. Specifically, the regulatory body draws its operational powers from Section 2D, Sub-sections 2 and 3 of the Act.
Moving forward, SMPRA holds a strict mandate to fight false, misleading, and harmful content on social media platforms. Therefore, affected individuals can file direct complaints with the authority.
Once a report is filed, the law binds SMPRA to issue orders within 24 hours. Ultimately, the authority possesses the legal power to block any online content it deems harmful or misleading, tightening regulatory oversight across the country.
Currently, Ayyaz Shaukat serves as the Advocate General of Islamabad. He will officially assume his new office at SMPRA after the upcoming Eid holidays. Furthermore, he will serve a five-year term as Chairman.
Along with the Chairman, the government appointed five senior journalists as members of the authority. These members include Sohail Iqbal Bhatti, Adnan Khan, Muhammad Salman Zafar, Fahad Malik, and Muhammad Saad Ali. Similarly, these members will also serve five-year terms.
