Shiza Fatima, Minister of State for IT and Telecom, clarified to journalists in Parliament that there are no restrictions on social media in Pakistan, despite the prolonged Twitter ban. She explained that the ban was due to Twitter’s exceptionally liberal policies, but emphasized that social media as a whole continues to function well in the country. 

 

Discussions with Twitter are ongoing, while platforms like Facebook and TikTok remain widely used in Pakistan. Fatima also addressed the recent directive from the Prime Minister to downsize the government, stating that the Ministry of IT and Telecom is not being abolished but will undergo restructuring. 

 

The plan includes eliminating unnecessary organizations and potentially establishing new ones if needed. This move aims to streamline operations within the ministry and improve efficiency. Fatima avoided commenting on the implementation of a firewall to control social media, focusing instead on the broader landscape and ongoing changes within the ministry.