Information Minister Atta Tarar has dismissed reports of a Chinese-style firewall to monitor social media in Pakistan.
Addressing the issue, Tarar mocked the Great Wall of China, denying such a measure was discussed during the Prime Minister’s visit to China.
Some previous reports revealed that the national firewall is indeed being built by various Internet Service Providers (ISP) to filter content on platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and X.
This new firewall will prevent unwanted content from reaching a wider audience.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Tarar highlighted the country’s progress despite internal and external challenges to peace and development.
Noting that the Prime Minister’s visit to China had been successful, he said that Pakistan-China relations were deepening.
“The meeting between the Prime Minister and the President of China lasted for three hours, during which discussions were held on improving the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC),” he said.
Tarar praised Pakistan’s election as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, describing it as an important diplomatic achievement. It also reported positive economic indicators, noting an increase in IT exports, a reduction in the trade deficit and stabilization of the exchange rate.
Turning to the economy, Tarar said that inflation has come down and the dollar has stabilized around $277-278 due to the measures taken against the dollar.
He added that Nowurd currently has two months of foreign exchange reserves, having been on the brink of bankruptcy a few months ago.
On the subject of social media rules, Tarar dismissed rumors of a Chinese-style Great Wall and instead poked fun at the Great Wall of China. He also pointed to upcoming legislation, saying defamation laws are needed to prevent the spread of misinformation and hate speech on social media.
In domestic politics, Tarar accused former Prime Minister Imran Khan of being involved in a major corruption scandal.
Al-Qadir Trust also asked for and called for accountability in the trial.
In closing, Tarar highlighted the government’s achievements in the first 100 days, including successful visits to China, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. He assured that the finance minister will give detailed information about the upcoming budget.
