Penalties Range from Rs100,000 to Rs1 Billion
ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly is expected to consider a new piece of legislation — the Prohibition of Obscenity and Vulgarity on Digital Media Bill 2025 — in its upcoming session. Introduced by PPP MNA Dr. Syeda Shahida Rehmani, the bill aims to curb obscene content across digital platforms and imposes penalties ranging from Rs100,000 to Rs1 billion.
The bill defines “digital media” broadly to include online and offline platforms, apps, social media, and streaming services. It covers all types of content, including images, videos, audio, multimedia, films, web series, animated sketches, dramas, songs, short clips, live broadcasts, and advertisements.
Prohibited content is outlined to include sexual conversations, extramarital relations, sexual immorality, semi-nude attire, drug use, violations of public morality, insulting religious sentiments, mocking hijab or purdah, ridiculing religious figures, and content that undermines Pakistan’s ideology or cultural values.
The legislation proposes the creation of a regulatory authority, a board, and a tribunal to enforce compliance. Investigations will be conducted by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and prosecuted under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016.
The board will consist of eight members: two religious scholars, one woman and one man, two psychologists, one female civil society representative, a media legal expert, a media professional tasked with removing prohibited content, and a federal government representative as chairperson. A separate tribunal will have three members — a qualified high court judge, a media professional, and an IT expert — to hear and decide cases.
The board will have the power to ban content, amend regulations, take suo motu action against obscene material, and recommend fines, which the authority will then enforce.
Penalties under the bill are tiered: first-time offenders face one-year imprisonment and a Rs500,000 fine, while second-time violations carry three years in prison and a Rs5 million fine. Violations involving religion, women, children, or the family system will attract five-year imprisonment and Rs10 million fines.
Digital platforms and service providers will be required to report all content uploaded in Pakistan to the board within 15 days and, upon notice, block prohibited material within 24 hours, retaining records for three years. First-time violations by platforms will incur a Rs50 million fine, second violations Rs100 million, and repeated offenses may lead to license cancellation and service blockage. All crimes under this law are non-bailable and non-compoundable.
The bill is expected to be reviewed by the relevant standing committee before final approval by the National Assembly.
PECA, enacted in 2016, was designed to tackle cybercrime and regulate electronic communication, addressing issues such as hacking, data theft, and cyberbullying. However, journalists and media organizations have voiced concerns that such laws could be misused to curtail press freedom and freedom of expression.
Senior PFUJ member Mazhar Abbas commented, “The government must learn from past mistakes. This law was previously misused against the same party that had passed it in haste.”
