IslamabadPakistan’s regulator says it cannot bar under-16s from social media.

Waqas Nasir’s petition asks the Islamabad High Court to direct the government to legislate for under-16s.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority says it cannot create age verification by administrative action, and web encryption makes blocking single URLs nearly impossible.

It says a new body, the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority, will replace it once notified.

The authority asked the court to dismiss the petition insofar as it exceeds its mandate.

How each outlet framed it
Dawn
reports PTA's explicit denial of statutory authority to impose age verification or restrict minors' social media, cites technical limitations and new PECA 2025 constraints

Sources: Dawn