The Lahore High Court has taken up a petition seeking a ban on social media use for children under the age of 16.
Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court Justice Aalia Neelum heard the case filed by an eighth-grade student.
During the hearing the court issued notices to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) the Ministry of Law and Justice and other relevant authorities directing them to submit their responses.
The Chief Justice remarked that the matter is of a sensitive nature and requires detailed replies from all parties.
The petition argues that social media platforms including TikTok are negatively affecting the mental moral and educational development of children.
It further states that it is the state’s responsibility to protect the fundamental rights of minors.
The petitioner has requested the court to impose a complete ban on social media usage for children below 16 years of age to safeguard their psychological well-being.
In a separate development, the PTA unveiled an important initiative to facilitate overseas Pakistanis by helping them overcome the issues of getting their mobile SIM card activated and ensuring they are not blocked while their stay abroad.
In a post on social media, the authority said that as part of its commitment towards uninterrupted telecom services, it implemented measures to enable members of Pakistani diaspora to protect their SIM cards while staying outside the country.
Under this facility, the subscribers can retain their ownership of their mobile SIMs for a certain period by intimating their respective cellular companies and paying the-related charges.
The initiative is aimed to ensure uninterrupted access to telecom services and allow the overseas Pakistanis to have un-disrupted connection with their loved ones within Pakistan.
Also read: PTA cautions public over unlawful online material
