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February 5, 2026 - Comments Off on Pakistan to chair Digital Cooperation Organization

Pakistan to chair Digital Cooperation Organization

At the 5th General Assembly in Kuwait, Pakistan’s Minister of IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja has taken over the chairmanship of the Digital Cooperation Organisation (DCO) for the upcoming term. The DCO is a multilateral international platform that promotes cooperation among member states in areas such as digital economy, infrastructure, cyber security and data governance. As the chairman of this commission, Pakistan plans to focus on digital education and online safety all while providing equitable access to technology for the benefit of women, children and other vulnerable communities. 

 

February 4, 2026 - Comments Off on Mobile internet suspended in parts of Balochistan

Mobile internet suspended in parts of Balochistan

Parts of Balochistan have faced mobile internet shutdowns for several days following a series of coordinated terrorist attacks in the province. Amidst such heightened security concerns, authorities in Quetta have said that the shutdown was necessary to deal with deteriorating law and order situation. Officials have indicated that services would be restored in the coming days once the situation is stabilized. In addition to the communications blackout, Pakistan Railways has halted train services from Quetta to other regions. 

February 3, 2026 - Comments Off on Fact Check: Video tying former cricket players to Epstein files is fake

Fact Check: Video tying former cricket players to Epstein files is fake

A viral video circulating on social media claimed to tie former Pakistani cricketer Wasim Akram said Imran Khan visited Jeffrey Epstein's island has been found to be fake. The clip was shared by multiple pro-PML-N accounts on X early February 2026 and presented an excerpt from a podcast that alleged Imran Khan and others were flown to the island on a private plane. According to iVerify at Dawn, there was no such statement made in the original podcast – traced back to an Australian podcast from 2022 – by Wasim Akram. 

February 2, 2026 - Comments Off on Digital portal launched by NAB

Digital portal launched by NAB

A new portal is being launched by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in Pakistan to protect citizens from housing scams. The portal, called Online Property Information System (OPIS), will enable citizens to verify property details from across Pakistan before investing in them, especially helping overseas Pakistanis access approved plans and plot locations to avoid fraud and financial exploitation. NAB reports that the system is ready for deployment and will soon be inaugurated.

February 1, 2026 - Comments Off on NCCIA launches AI tool to curb online child exploitation

NCCIA launches AI tool to curb online child exploitation

Pakistan has introduced a new AI-powered tool to strengthen its investigations on online child sexual exploitation and abuse. Called ‘Katalyst,’ the system was launched by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to help identify, prioritise, and analyze online evidence linked to exploitation cases which have increased with the expansion of digital spaces. Officials at the NCCIA believe the technology will improve the speed and accuracy of detecting and solving urgent cases and help restore children’s safety. 

December 18, 2025 - Comments Off on PTA concludes “Cybersecurity Awareness Week” with little focus on redressal mechanisms

PTA concludes “Cybersecurity Awareness Week” with little focus on redressal mechanisms

PTA’s flagship “Cybersecurity Awareness Week” event concluded this Wednesday. The campaign offered no fresh solutions to victims of cyber harassment, focusing instead on preventive mechanisms through awareness campaigns across a wide range of emerging digital trends. This included sessions on safe use of AI, online reporting, and digital footprints. Ultimately, the PTA encouraged new digital users to become responsible “Digital Citizens”, and sidelined discussions on legal redress mechanisms and institutional obstacles for victims. These institutional failures are evident in the slow responses of authorities like the NCCIA in resolving citizen complaints and grievances. 

December 17, 2025 - Comments Off on CM Bugti calls for strict action against online misinformation

CM Bugti calls for strict action against online misinformation

Addressing the Provincial Assembly in Balochistan, Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti called for strict legislative action against coordinated online campaigns against elected representatives. Opposition leader Mir Younas echoed these sentiments, referring to the “Balochistan Leaks” social media page as a propaganda tool that is propagating defamatory claims against Baloch politicians. The Speaker of the Provincial Assembly also took a firm stance, and directed the regional head of the FIA to conduct a formal inquiry into online campaigns maligning elected officials. The aforementioned Balochistan Leaks website characterizes itself as providing “investigative reports” on the misallocation of funds in development projects in Balochistan.

December 17, 2025 - Comments Off on Govt to launch a secure messaging app for government employees

Govt to launch a secure messaging app for government employees

Recent global incidents have underscored the vulnerabilities inherent in relying on official digital communication platforms for relaying sensitive information. The NA Standing Committee on IT and Telecommunications mentioned as such in a session this week, justifying the need for a locally developed messaging platform that allows for safe, secure, and reliable communication amongst government employees. They instructed the National Information Technology Board (NITB) to accelerate the roll-out of “Beep”, a secure messaging application with enhanced encryption features and locally situated servers. Inspired by the Chinese “WeChat” platform, Beep is Pakistan’s latest attempt at indigenizing its digital infrastructure- with the ultimate objective of reducing reliance on official platforms.

December 16, 2025 - Comments Off on National Assembly Lawmakers raise doubts over PTA’s user-satisfaction claims

National Assembly Lawmakers raise doubts over PTA’s user-satisfaction claims

The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) recently came under serious scrutiny after lawmakers from the Standing Committee of IT and Telecommunications criticized the regulator over deteriorating quality of internet services. The government specifically criticized recent statistics publicized by the PTA citing a 99% success rate in complaint resolution and 85% customer satisfaction. This data was rejected outright by lawmakers who stressed regional inequalities in internet coverage, deteriorating internet speeds, and lack of fiber connectivity. The PTA was urged to be more proactive in encouraging rural connectivity and internal governance reforms.

December 16, 2025 - Comments Off on Fauji Foundation and Binance to collaborate on Pakistan’s “crypto push”

Fauji Foundation and Binance to collaborate on Pakistan’s “crypto push”

The Pakistan Cryptocurrency Council (PCC) recently issued a statement reporting that Fauji Foundation has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Binance, a global giant in blockchain technology and crypto exchange. This agreement underscores Pakistan’s commitment towards using emerging financial technologies to strengthen investor access and capital markets. It is also a further step into legitimizing a contentious digital technology within the country’s broader objectives of digitizing economic transactions and assets. Under this agreement, Fauji Foundation, a business conglomerate with sizable investments across various sectors in the country, will conduct research and educational programs intended to inform citizens of responsible crypto use.