The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has rejected claims that the government has decided to ban TikTok in Pakistan, describing a notification circulating on social media as fake and misleading.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the regulator clarified that it had not issued any notification announcing a ban on the popular video-sharing platform.
“PTA clarifies that no such notification has been issued, and the circulating information is false and misleading,” the authority said.
The PTA urged citizens not to share unverified information and advised them to obtain authentic updates through its official website and verified social media accounts.
The clarification came after a purported notification bearing the regulator’s name began circulating online, claiming that access to TikTok would be blocked across Pakistan.
The document allegedly cited national security, public order and the protection of children and young people as reasons for the proposed ban. It also claimed that internet service providers had been instructed to restrict access to the platform.
The PTA categorically rejected these claims, confirming that no such decision had been announced.
What is TikTok and how does it work?
TikTok is a global short-form video-sharing platform that allows users to create, edit, watch and share videos featuring music, sound effects, filters and digital effects.
Launched internationally in 2017 by Chinese technology company ByteDance, the application has become one of the world’s most widely used social media platforms.
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Users can record videos directly through the application or upload existing footage, edit it using creative tools and share it with followers or the wider TikTok community.
One of its most prominent features is the personalised “For You” feed, which recommends videos based on users’ interests and interactions, including the content they watch, like, share and comment on.
The platform also offers live streaming, direct messaging, video duets, stitching, photo posts and interactive effects. Eligible creators can also earn money through monetisation programmes and virtual gifts, subject to regional availability.
Where is TikTok headquartered?
TikTok lists Los Angeles, California, and Singapore as its global headquarters.
The platform is owned by ByteDance, a technology company founded in China in 2012. ByteDance also operates Douyin, a separate short-video application designed for the Chinese market.
TikTok and Douyin operate as separate platforms, with TikTok serving international markets and Douyin catering to users in mainland China.
TikTok also maintains offices in several major cities, including New York, London, Dublin, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Jakarta, Seoul and Tokyo.
TikTok’s previous bans in Pakistan
The latest clarification comes against the backdrop of repeated regulatory and judicial interventions concerning TikTok in Pakistan.
The PTA first blocked the application in October 2020 following complaints about content described by the regulator as immoral and indecent. The restriction was lifted after 10 days after the company assured the authority that it would block accounts involved in sharing objectionable material.
In March 2021, the Peshawar High Court ordered the suspension of TikTok services over concerns about allegedly inappropriate content. The restriction was subsequently lifted in April.
In June 2021, the Sindh High Court also directed the PTA to suspend access to the application over complaints about immoral and obscene content. The suspension was withdrawn three days later.
The PTA blocked TikTok again on July 20, 2021, citing the platform’s failure to remove inappropriate content.
Following further engagement with the regulator, TikTok assured authorities that it would strengthen content moderation and prevent the uploading and distribution of unlawful material.
The PTA restored the application on November 19, 2021, after receiving assurances from the company’s management that it would take action against users repeatedly involved in uploading unlawful content.
Millions of videos removed in Pakistan
Content moderation has remained a major issue in the regulator’s engagement with TikTok, particularly over material considered unlawful or inappropriate under Pakistani laws.
According to TikTok’s Community Guidelines Enforcement Report for April-June 2025, the platform removed 25,448,992 videos from Pakistan during the three-month period for violating its community guidelines.
The company reported that 99.7 per cent of those videos were removed proactively, while 96.2 per cent were taken down within 24 hours of being uploaded.
During the preceding quarter, January-March 2025, TikTok reported removing 24,954,128 videos in Pakistan for similar violations.
These figures were published by TikTok and reflect the platform’s enforcement of its own community guidelines rather than an independent assessment by Pakistani authorities.
The PTA continues to engage with international social media companies over complaints about unlawful online content and compliance with applicable laws.
Meanwhile, the regulator has formally registered two popular social media platforms, BIGO LIVE and Likee, in Pakistan under Bigo Service Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd, bringing their operations under the country’s regulatory framework for online content.
