ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday called for better Internet access for the masses during his meeting with a delegation of the Global Systems for Mobile Communication’s (GSM) Asia Pacific, despite Pakistan’s ongoing ban on social media platform X.
Pakistani authorities banned X on Feb. 17 after protests swept the country over rigging allegations in the general election held earlier this year. The government defended the “legitimate” ban in court, saying it was aimed at addressing the country’s national security concerns.
Additionally, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Major General (retired) Hafeezur Rehman reportedly said the authority plans to restrict the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPN) to prevent users from accessing X. The move was criticized by digital rights activists and triggered fears of digital censorship and Internet freedom.
“Better access to the Internet for the common man, improvement of digital infrastructure, e-governance, vocational training of digital skills among youth and innovation and promotion of business in this sector are focused,” Sharf told a four-member delegation led by GSM Asia Pacific chief Julian Gorman.
As per the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Sharif said his government was implementing an action plan for reforms and digitization of the information technology sector, adding that it would also allocate a “historic” development budget in the current financial year.
He noted that Pakistan was working to increase IT exports on priority. The Pakistani prime minister said his vision revolved around every person in the country having access to a smartphone, broadband Internet connection and every business having a QR code facility.
The visiting delegation briefed the prime minister about GSM’s role in promoting telecom services across the world, including Pakistan. It expressed interest in further enhancing cooperation with the Pakistani government in the field of IT and telecom, the PMO said.
Amid X ban, Pakistan pushes for better Internet access in GSM Asia Pacific talks
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Amid X ban, Pakistan pushes for better Internet access in GSM Asia Pacific talks
- Pakistani authorities banned social media platform X in February, triggering concerns about Internet freedom
- Telcos authority has reportedly said it plans to restrict the use of VPN to prevent users from accessing X
Pakistan’s top military commander hails Saudi defense pact as ‘historic’ at scholars’ conference
- Asim Munir says Pakistan has a unique bond with the Kingdom, citing the ‘honor’ of helping safeguard the holy sites
- He says only the state can declare jihad, urging religious scholars to counter extremist narratives and promote unity
ISLAMABAD: Chief of Defense Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir on Wednesday described the country’s joint security pact with Saudi Arabia as a “historic” milestone, telling a gathering of religious scholars that Pakistan and the kingdom share a deep strategic relationship.
Signed in September, the Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement has solidified decades of Saudi–Pakistan defense cooperation, covering intelligence-sharing, counterterrorism and regional stability.
The two nations have long coordinated on defense matters, with Pakistani military personnel deployed in the Kingdom.
“The defense agreement [with Saudi Arabia] is historic,” he said in an address to the conference in the federal capital.
The top military commander said Pakistan regarded its connection with the Kingdom as unique.
“Among all Muslim countries, Allah has given Pakistan the honor of helping safeguard the Haramain,” he continued, referring to the two holiest sites of Islam in Makkah and Madinah.
Munir used his speech to warn against extremism, saying that under the Islamic framework, only the state could declare jihad, a pointed reference to groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which claims to act in the name of religion while carrying out attacks on civilians and security forces.
“When nations abandon knowledge and the pen, disorder takes hold,” he said, urging the religious scholars to help keep society unified and to “broaden the nation’s vision.”
Munir also criticized India, describing “terrorism” as “India’s habit, not Pakistan’s.”
His remarks came months after a four-day military confrontation in May, during which the two nuclear-armed neighbors exchanged artillery and missile fire and deployed drones and fighter jets.
India blamed Pakistan for a militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir before launching a missile attack. Islamabad denied involvement and called for an international probe.
Pakistan claimed it had shot down six Indian fighter jets before a US-brokered ceasefire took effect.
“We do not hide when confronting the enemy,” Munir said. “We challenge openly.”
