ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) banned the use of social media and video streaming sites at its national secretariat in Islamabad and provincial offices across the country, a notification issued on Tuesday. 

According to the reports, ECP Deputy Director Syed A. Rahman Zafar sent letters to the provincial election commissioners of Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The letter stated that blocking the social media sites on ECP networks will minimise malware attacks and "ensure the discipline of using electronic resources up to the optimum level".

"...the Competent Authority has directed to block social media websites (i.e. Youtube, Facebook, Twitter etc.) on all networks of ECP secretariat as well as PEC offices including field offices with immediate effect," reads the letter dated March 31.

Through the cooperation of provincial general managers of PTCL and National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC), the provincial election commissioners have been directed to ensure the blockage of social media and streaming sites immediately reportedly.