Pakistan’s telecom regulator has released its 2025 platform-wise URL blocking data, showing sharp differences in how major social media companies respond to removal requests. The figures come at a time when the authority is also preparing for the country’s upcoming 5G spectrum auction, placing digital regulation and network expansion side by side.
According to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, a total of 102,010 URLs were processed in 2025 under regulatory enforcement. Out of these, 71,439 cases remained under review, 4,894 were rejected, and 25,677 were blocked. The overall compliance rate stood at 70.03%.
YouTube Leads Compliance, Twitter Lags Behind
A closer look at the platform breakdown shows clear contrasts. YouTube recorded the highest compliance ratio at 83.81%, making it the most responsive major platform in the list. Instagram followed with 80.38%, while Facebook reached 79.77%. TikTok processed 71.55% of requests, and platforms grouped under Others/Misc showed a 64.53% ratio.
However, Twitter posted the weakest performance among major platforms. The company processed only 35.18% of the forwarded URLs. This marks the lowest compliance ratio in the dataset and highlights ongoing friction between regulators and certain global platforms over content enforcement standards.
Smaller platforms showed mixed results. SnackVideo recorded a compliance ratio of 1.48%, while Bigo/Likee and Dailymotion reported no significant activity in the dataset.
PTA – Platform Wise URL Blocking Summary (2025)
| Platform | Total Processed | Under Review | Rejected | Blocked | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43,460 | 34,668 | 1,451 | 7,341 | 79.77% | |
| 10,978 | 8,824 | 654 | 1,500 | 80.38% | |
| 17,358 | 6,107 | 776 | 10,475 | 35.18% | |
| YouTube | 5,233 | 4,386 | 172 | 675 | 83.81% |
| TikTok | 21,659 | 15,496 | 1,132 | 5,031 | 71.55% |
| Others/Misc | 3,028 | 1,954 | 709 | 365 | 64.53% |
| SnackVideo | 271 | 4 | 0 | 267 | 1.48% |
| Bigo/Likee | 23 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0.00% |
| Dailymotion | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% |
| Total | 102,010 | 71,439 | 4,894 | 25,677 | 70.03% |
5G Auction Nears as Regulatory Oversight Tightens
The enforcement data arrives as the regulator moves closer to launching Pakistan’s long-awaited 5G services. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority is overseeing preparations for the Next Generation Mobile Services spectrum auction, a key step toward commercial 5G rollout.
Industry observers note that stronger content oversight and faster network speeds are reshaping Pakistan’s digital environment at the same time. As 5G promises higher bandwidth and faster connectivity, regulators appear equally focused on tightening compliance standards for online platforms operating in the country.
Together, the blocking data and the 5G push reflect a broader effort to expand digital infrastructure while maintaining regulatory control over online content.
