The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has dismissed reports claiming that TikTok is being banned in Pakistan, clarifying that a notification circulating on social media regarding the alleged ban is fake.
In a statement shared on social media platform X, the authority said that no official notification regarding a TikTok ban had been issued and termed the circulating information false and misleading.
The PTA urged citizens not to share or rely on unverified reports, advising them to seek authentic updates only through its official website and verified social media accounts.
TikTok has faced several temporary bans in Pakistan over allegations of promoting obscene and inappropriate content.
The platform was first banned in October 2020, but access was restored ten days later after TikTok assured authorities that it would take action against accounts involved in spreading objectionable material.
In March 2021, the Peshawar High Court ordered a ban on the application, which was lifted in April. In June of the same year, the Sindh High Court directed the PTA to suspend TikTok over concerns about immoral and obscene content. However, the suspension was withdrawn three days later.
The PTA blocked access to the platform again in July 2021, citing TikTok’s failure to remove inappropriate content.
In August 2021, the Islamabad High Court questioned the PTA’s authority to impose a blanket ban on the application and directed the regulator to consult the government and develop a proper mechanism for addressing such concerns.
The ban was eventually lifted in November 2021 after TikTok assured Pakistani authorities that it would strengthen measures to control the circulation of objectionable content.
