In a significant move to combat misinformation and anti-state activities, 86,000 SIM cards have been blocked, as revealed by Parliamentary Secretary Sajid Mehdi during a session of the National Assembly on Wednesday.

Responding to a notice regarding the spread of fake news on social media, Mehdi acknowledged that the government had also restricted access to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to help curb misinformation.

He indicated that amendments to the Electronic Crimes Act are anticipated to further strengthen regulations against fake news.

Additionally, the use of VPNs has been limited to control the dissemination of false information. Mehdi noted that a task force has been established under the Prime Minister’s directive to address fake news, with awareness campaigns being launched in educational institutions across the country.

He contrasted Pakistan’s approach to misinformation with international norms, stating that globally, fake news is often not given the same level of attention, allowing for greater freedom of expression.

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Furthermore, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cybercrime Wing has been officially empowered to take action against social media offenses, following a notification from the Ministry of IT.

This announcement comes as the government intensifies its efforts to tackle the challenges posed by misinformation.