LAHORE, Punjab: The Punjab Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution seeking a ban on social media for children under 16, subject to parental or legal guardian consent and reliable age verification.
Treasury lawmaker Sarah Ahmad moved the resolution, which urged the Punjab government to ask the federal government to introduce effective legal restrictions on minors’ access to social media.
The resolution said the state has a responsibility to protect children’s physical, mental, psychological and moral development.
It also raised concerns that inappropriate social media content could expose children to mental stress and other risks.
The House recommended that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) require social media platforms to introduce effective age-verification systems.
Read: Punjab Under-16 Social Media Ban Resolution Tabled
The resolution also called for social media companies to follow child-protection standards, restrict harmful content promptly and provide a safer online environment for minors.
Lawmakers urged federal and provincial institutions to run sustained awareness campaigns for parents, teachers and children on digital safety and responsible internet use.
The Assembly also called for stronger coordination between federal and provincial authorities and for legislation to improve online protections for children.
The resolution itself does not impose a ban. It asks the federal government and relevant regulators to develop and enforce the necessary legal and regulatory measures.
