Which Websites have been Blocked in Pakistan as PTA’s URL Tally crosses 1.5 Million?

ISLAMABAD – Pakistani internet users witnessed websites appearing, disappearing, and sometimes returning without clear explanations. From news platforms to social media networks and online services, access to digital content repeatedly become part of wider debate over regulation and online freedoms.

From global services to news platforms such as Al Jazeera and other international websites that have faced access disruptions, the debate over internet controls continues, with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) blocking more than 1.54 million online URLs across social media platforms and websites by July 2026, data shows.

The figures reveal that nearly nine out of every ten reported links were removed, underscoring the massive scale of the country’s digital enforcement efforts. The Telcom authority processed 1,726,303 URLs during the reporting period. Of those, 1,544,900 were blocked, 76,874 remain under review, while 106,629 complaints were rejected, resulting in an overall 89.49% blocking rate.

Some of the Top Websites Blocked in Pakistan

The biggest share of enforcement came from the Others/Misc category, where 899,415 URLs were processed and 891,772 were blocked—an extraordinary 99.15% takedown rate, the highest among all categories. PTA has not publicly disclosed what types of websites or services fall under this classification, leaving the overwhelming majority of blocked links outside public scrutiny.

Among mainstream social media platforms, Facebook recorded the highest number of blocked URLs. The regulator processed 287,362 Facebook links, removing 230,270 of them. TikTok ranked second, with 170,231 URLs blocked from 195,625 reports, while X (formerly Twitter) saw 74,236 takedowns out of 143,670 processed links, giving it the lowest blocking rate among the major platforms at 51.67%.

YouTube registered one of the highest platform-specific enforcement rates. PTA removed 66,290 of 74,823 reported URLs, translating into an 88.6% blocking rate. WhatsApp followed with 50,165 blocked links and a 90.53% success rate, while Instagram recorded 45,510 removals from 54,335 processed URLs, equal to an 83.76% blocking rate.

Smaller platforms were not spared. SnackVideo had 7,225 URLs blocked out of 8,329 processed, while Bigo and Likee recorded 6,539 removals from 6,730 reports, representing a 97.16% blocking rate. Dailymotion accounted for 562 blocked URLs from 600 processed cases, with a 93.67% enforcement rate.

The volume of takedowns highlights the unprecedented scale of Pakistan’s online content regulation. Removing more than 1.54 million URLs suggests an enforcement system operating at industrial capacity. However, PTA has not disclosed whether the decisions are made through automated detection systems, manual review teams, or a combination of both. The regulator has also not explained how it safeguards against erroneous or unjustified removals.

The latest figures emerge amid increasing debate over digital regulation in Pakistan. PTA recently signed a Letter of Intent with Meta aimed at strengthening online safety initiatives, while separate cases before the Islamabad High Court and the Lahore High Court are examining issues related to social media regulation for minors.

Pakistan’s approach remains largely complaint-based, with authorities reviewing and blocking individual URLs after they are reported. This contrasts with regulatory frameworks adopted elsewhere. The European Union’s Digital Services Act places proactive content moderation responsibilities on major online platforms, while Australia has introduced age-verification requirements for certain digital services. Pakistan, by comparison, continues to rely on individual URL-level enforcement—one that has now surpassed 1.54 million takedowns.

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