Access to the popular social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, has been restored in Pakistan.
As of Tuesday, around 4 PM, users were once again able to access the platform without VPNs after its suspension on February 17, 2024.
The ban, initially imposed in February after the 2024 general elections, was officially confirmed in March when the Interior Ministry informed the Sindh High Court (SHC) that X had been blocked based on reports from intelligence agencies. Access to the platform had been disrupted across many areas of the country since the ban.
In July, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar told a Senate panel that the caretaker government had banned X due to “compliance issues.” Later, in August, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari suggested the ban could be lifted if new social media rules were established. In April, the SHC had directed the Ministry of Interior to revoke the suspension within a week, though the directive was not immediately acted upon.
The situation highlights ongoing struggles by Pakistani authorities to regulate social media content. Critics argue these efforts, including the establishment of the National Cybercrimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in May, are attempts to stifle dissent and curb digital freedoms.
