Pakistani Minister Claims Social Media Remains Accessible Despite Firewall

Islamabad: State Minister for IT Shiza Fatima Khawaja has asserted that all social media platforms remain accessible, dismissing concerns that firewalls could control or restrict social media content as mere assumptions. Speaking to journalists at the Parliament House, Khawaja emphasized that the idea of controlling social media through firewalls is a misconception and that controversies are often unnecessarily stirred.
She further noted that platforms like X (formerly Twitter) must adhere to Pakistani laws just like other social media platforms. If the government aimed to enforce language restrictions, it would have targeted platforms like TikTok and Facebook rather than X. Khawaja highlighted that TikTok complies with local regulations 95% of the time, and Facebook also follows local laws, stressing that X (formerly Twitter) needs to improve its compliance.
The minister refrained from providing a clear response regarding the installation of firewalls during her conversation with journalists.