ISLAMABAD – Pakistani social media users and creators are confused over whether Pakistan could restrict payments linked to TikTok LIVE as the feature has never been officially available but is being used.
As of mid 2026, there is no formal ban on TikTok LIVE earnings or bank withdrawals; any revenue generated through unofficial access to the platform could come under scrutiny by tax authorities and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), particularly if it involves unexplained inflows of foreign funds.
Rumors circulating on social media sparked fresh speculation that Pakistani authorities are moving to block bank payments linked to TikTok LIVE earnings. However, there is no official decision from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) or the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announcing a ban on such transactions.
The confusion appears to stem from the fact that TikTok LIVE is not officially available in Pakistan. LIVE streaming feature has never been launched for Pakistani users through official channels, despite its huge audience.
According to officials familiar with the matter, the restriction is imposed by TikTok itself, not by the PTA. When TikTok resumed operations in Pakistan after previous suspensions, LIVE was not among the services made available to local users. Since then, the feature has remained inaccessible through official means.
Officials said that if individuals based in Pakistan are generating income from TikTok LIVE and successfully withdrawing those earnings, they are likely accessing the feature through unauthorized methods rather than through TikTok’s officially supported system.
Sources added that because the feature is not legally available in Pakistan, the SBP could scrutinize or restrict unexplained inflows of foreign funds associated with TikTok LIVE earnings if they fall outside applicable financial regulations. However, they stressed that no blanket banking ban on TikTok LIVE payments has been announced.
Despite the official restriction, some Pakistani creators continue to appear on LIVE streams. Industry sources say these users may be bypassing regional restrictions by using foreign SIM cards, connecting through VPN services, installing modified versions of the TikTok app, streaming through TikTok LIVE Studio using a foreign internet connection.
TikTok has not confirmed these methods or disclosed the exact criteria it uses to determine LIVE eligibility. Another claim circulating online suggests that using a non-PTA-approved phone unlocks TikTok LIVE.
Officials rejected the claim, saying there is no evidence that a device’s PTA registration status affects access to the feature. TikTok’s regional eligibility is determined by the platform, not by whether a handset is PTA-approved.
