Tag: Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication

  • IT ministry notifies amended social media rules framed under Peca

    IT ministry notifies amended social media rules framed under Peca

    The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication on Thursday notified the amended social media rules that stakeholders and digital rights activists have strongly criticised, reports Javed Hussain for Dawn.

    The rules titled the “Removal and Blocking of Unlawful Online Content (Procedure, Oversight, and Safeguards) Rules, 2021”, have been framed under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), 2016.

    The rules are as follows:

    Social media companies will have to register with Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) within three months.

    Social media outlets will be required to establish an office in Pakistan “as and when feasible” — instead of nine months as required previously.

    PTA will give 48 hours, instead of 24 hours previously, to a social media company for removing or blocking access to online content.

    Meanwhile, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan recently formed the National Social Media Coordination Working Group (NSMCWG).

    The premier constituted NSMCWG to work on relevant policies related to Social Media, provide input to the government of Pakistan on social media-related issues, and engage with international social media companies in a coherent and coordinated manner.

    Dr Arslan Khalid, focal person to PM on Digital Media, who is also the spokesperson of NSMCWG, said, “Social media is one subject which is being dealt with by many ministries and departments. It was observed that there was weak coordination between the government stakeholders resulting in delays and confusion over some policy matters. This working group will bring all the relevant stakeholders on one platform which will help in better result-oriented engagement with the social media companies.”

    The Working Group consists of Ministry of Information &Technology as the Lead ministry, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Ministry of Law & Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Commerce, Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Digital Media (Spokesperson), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and Digital Media Wing as permanent members while Chair of NSMWG can include any other ministry/department or Think Tank as a Co-opted member as and when required.

  • ‘Chance at a normal life’: Fawad supports TTP integration

    ‘Chance at a normal life’: Fawad supports TTP integration

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry is supporting ‘a normal life’ for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), those of whom wish to pledged loyalty to the state, reports Geo.

    Fawad said, “The people who could not fulfill their pledge of allegiance to Pakistan want to return to fulfill this pledge.”

    According to the minister, those people who wish to follow the constitution should be given a chance, adding that the government seeks to move forward with the conditions laid down by Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan.

    Earlier, PM Khan called for the disarmament of the TTP by saying, “We can forgive them and they can become normal citizens.”

    The information minister added that in Balochistan more than 3000 people have come back to a normal life, the ones who had ‘fallen prey to India’s conspiracies.’

    The TTP said that their leaders are engaged in “secret talks” and have asked all fighters to observe a ceasefire till October 20.

  • Fawad Chaudhry, Shireen Mazari condemn attack on journalist

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry and Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari on Wednesday condemned the attack on journalist Asad Ali Toor, by unidentified men.

    As per the official account of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, SSP Islamabad has been directed to probe the attack and bring the perpetrators to justice.

    As per Asad Ali Toor’s video statement, three unidentified men broke into his apartment and tortured him. The three assailants can be seen leaving Toor’s apartment in the CCTV footage, reported BBC Urdu. Journalist Shahbaz Zahid also posted the CCTV footage on Twitter.

    Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also called for a full and transparent inquiry of the incident.

    Amnesty International has also urged authorities to take urgent steps for the safety of media workers in Pakistan.

    Journalists from around the country have condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with Toor.

    The federal cabinet in April approved the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Bill. Last year, journalist Matiullah Jan was abducted in Islamabad but was released after 12 hours while last month, senior journalist Absar Alam survived an assassination attempt in Islamabad. The Freedom Network’s annual state of press freedom report released in April 2021 highlighted a dramatic escalation in the climate of intimidation and harassment of journalists and the media in Pakistan.

  • How electoral reforms will affect you

    How electoral reforms will affect you

    Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday said the federal cabinet had approved two ordinances pertaining to the reforms in the country’s electoral system. The said electoral reforms consist of four parts; electronic voting machines (EVMs), e-voting for overseas Pakistanis, use of biometric authentication, and legislation,” the minister informed.

    https://twitter.com/FawadPTIUpdates/status/1389548245496500229

    Out of the approved ordinances, one is in relevance to the electronic voting, whereas the other aims to facilitate overseas Pakistani voters. The ordinance authorizes the Election Commission to use the EVM machine. However, Fawad Chaudhry added, PML-N and PPP are reluctant on providing this EVM facility to the overseas Pakistanis.

    He emphasized that the government has fulfilled its responsibility regarding legislation on the subject. “Technological work is to be done on biometric and e-voting,” Fawad added.

    Fawad said that after the ordinance, it is up to the ECP to include overseas Pakistanis in the voting process.

    The move comes after PPP’s NA-249 by-election victory, which was declared a “stolen” election by the PML-N.

    It also comes after PM extended an invitation to Opposition parties to sit down with the government and work on electoral reforms so elections can be made fair and transparent for all.

  • PTV, PTV Sports to turn HD, says Fawad Chaudhry

    Fawad Chaudhry, who was reappointed Minister for Information and Broadcasting in a recent cabinet shuffle, has shared his plans on what he plans to do under his ministry.

    “The process that started in 2018 to initiate reforms in the Information Ministry is being resumed,” said Chaudhry in a tweet, adding that the project to make Pakistan Television HD will be completed by June 1.

    In addition to this, work on making PTV Sports HD is also in progress.

    Chaudhry further said an English channel will be launched soon and that reforms to digitize the Associate Press of Pakistan (APP) are underway.

    Chaudhry further said that the revival of the film and drama industry is his ministry’s “first priority” and that production work on the biographies of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and Tipu Sultan is under process.

    Young film and drama makers will be given loans up to 5 crore under ‘Nujawan Program’ to facilitate the revival of the industry.

    “Journalists associated with print and electronic media will be provided with personal houses under Prime Minister’s housing project, and health cards will be also provided,” said Fawad, assuring to resolve the non-payment of salaries issues of journalists.

    The Minister also extended his support toward Digital Media saying that “we will give them full support.”

    Meanwhile, Fawad also said that a digital recording of the National Anthem is under process.

  • Huawei to launch training for IT Ministry officials

    Huawei to launch training for IT Ministry officials

    Huawei Technologies Pakistan is going to launch a training programme for the government employees of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication.

    Huawei, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mark Meng, and a delegation of Huawei Technologies Pakistan called on Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Syed Amin Ul Haque on Wednesday.

    The Minister welcomed the delegation in his office and matters related to information and communication technology (ICT), connectivity, and digitization were discussed during the meeting.

    CEO Huawei Pakistan briefed the Federal Minister about the company’s programs and its initiatives in the ICT sector.

    The Federal Minister also praised Huawei Technologies Pakistan for it’s IT training program for government employees and development projects for ICT sector. He also assured Ministry full support to Huawei.