It is reported that Pakistan’s approach to SIM registration obliges mobile network operators to collect and validate users’ personal information and proof of identity. In Pakistan, biometric registration is required, and unregistered SIM cards are subject to deactivation.

According to Art. 7.5 of the Removal and Blocking of Unlawful Online Content (Procedure, Oversight and Safeguards) Rules 2021, which repealed the 2020 Rules, "Significant Social Media Companies" have to deploy mechanisms to ensure immediate blocking of live streaming of any online content related to terrorism and hate speech, among others. According to Art. 2 of the law, a "Significant Social Media Company" includes social media companies with more than half a million users in Pakistan or is on the list specially notified by the Authority for this purpose from time to time

Section 37 of the "Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016" empowers the Authority to remove, block, or issue directions for the removal or blocking of access to information disseminated through any information system where it considers such action necessary. The grounds for exercising this power include the interest of the glory of Islam; the integrity, security, or defence of Pakistan or any part thereof; public order; decency or morality; contempt of court; or the commission of, or incitement to commit, an offence under the Act. The provision further stipulates that the Authority shall, subject to the approval of the Federal Government, prescribe rules establishing safeguards, a transparent process, and an effective oversight mechanism governing the exercise of these powers. Pursuant to this mandate, the "Removal and Blocking of Unlawful Online Content (Procedure, Oversight and Safeguards) Rules, 2021" were enacted.
There are several reported instances of commercial online services being blocked in Pakistan:
- Grindr has reportedly been inaccessible in Pakistan since at least 31 May 2019, with the blockage continuing into 2025. Although a governmental order dated 1 September 2020 expressly directed the blocking of Grindr and other dating applications, technical measurement data indicate that access restrictions were in effect prior to this date. The order cited concerns relating to immoral or indecent content, grounds expressly provided for under Section 37 of the Act.
- Telegram was blocked in Pakistan beginning on 16 December 2023, with the restriction remaining in force as of 2025. No publicly available governmental orders or official statements have acknowledged or justified this decision. Available evidence suggests uneven implementation across Internet service providers, with some restricting access solely to the web-based version of the service (telegram.org), while others also blocking the mobile application.
- Signal was blocked on selected mobile networks in Pakistan from approximately 26 August 2024. By 6 November 2024, the blocking appeared to have been extended across all major providers. This restriction likewise remained active as of 2025.

According to various reports, Pakistani authorities have repeatedly suspended or throttled telecommunication and internet services during periods of political unrest, elections, and religious or national holidays. Section 54 of the Pakistan Telecommunications (Re-organization) Act of 1996 grants the government the authority to suspend internet services; however, while the law permits such action only under a formally declared state of emergency, in practice it has been used to justify recurrent service disruptions. In 2023 alone, seven internet shutdowns were reported. Notably, following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, widespread protests led the government to suspend mobile internet services and block access to several social media platforms.
In addition, the government reportedly throttled internet access nationwide during a virtual jalsa (political rally) in January 2024. Similar disruptions reportedly occurred in connection with virtual rallies in December 2023 and January 2024. Further restrictions took place in February 2024, when mobile internet services were suspended across the country for a period of 10 hours on election day. In April 2024, at the direction of the Ministry of Interior, mobile services were suspended in several areas of Punjab and Balochistan during by-elections. In May 2024, 4G broadband services were disrupted in Mirpur, Rawalakot, and other cities in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), with mobile internet reportedly suspended for five consecutive days beginning on May 12.
In addition, the indicator "7.2.4 - Government Internet shut down in practice" of the V-Dem Dataset, which measures whether the government has the technical capacity to actively make internet service cease, thus interrupting domestic access to the internet or whether the government has decided to do so, has a score of 2 in Pakistan for the year 2025. This corresponds to "The government shut down domestic access to the Internet several times this year."

According to Art. 27 of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Ordinance, advertisement is prohibited when it is considered to distort historical facts, traditions of Pakistan or the person or personality of a national leader or a state dignitary; to glorify non-Islamic values; to be directed against the sanctity of home, family, and marriage; to contain indecent, vulgar, or offensive themes or treatment; or contains material that is repugnant to the ideology of Pakistan or Islamic values. Moreover, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has prohibited the broadcast of advertisements produced in India or featuring Indian actors and characters. It is reported that the ban on the airing of Indian ads remains in place till the time the advertisement is replaced by those produced in Pakistan and featuring Pakistani actors and talent.

Under Section 25 of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority Ordinance 2002, a licence is required for broadcast media and distribution services. These licences cannot be granted to:
- A person who is not a citizen of Pakistan or a resident of Pakistan;
- A foreign company organised under the laws of any foreign government;
- A company the majority of whose shares are owned or controlled by foreign nationals or companies whose management or control is vested in foreign nationals or companies; or
- Any person funded or sponsored by a foreign government or organisation.

According to Art. 5.2.a of the Import Policy Order 2016, as amended in 2020 and last amended in 2022, all products which are of Indian or Israeli origin or imported from India or Israel are banned entry into Pakistan, except therapeutic products regulated by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan. Before the 2020 amendment, only the ban was limited to imports from Israel and of Israeli origin. The Order is issued under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act 1950, last amended in 2024.

According to Appendix A of the Import Policy Order 2016, last amended in 2022, Pakistan has banned the import of Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunication (DECT) 6.0 phone discs and tapes from all countries. The Order is issued under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act 1950, last amended in 2024.

According to the Strategic Trade Policy Framework (2015-2018), in order to avoid the misuse of 3D printers, they can only be imported with prior permission from the Ministry of Interior.

According to Appendix B of the Import Policy Order 2016, as amended in 2022, only the Pakistan Television Corporation and other licensed authorities by the Federal Government are allowed to import transmission equipment used for reception, broadcast and distribution of satellite signals pertaining to the field of electronic media. Other companies that have an agreement with the government may also import these items to supply cellular and mobile phone facilities. The Order is issued under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act 1950, last amended in 2024.

It is reported that Pakistan prohibits exports to India and Israel.

Section 5 of the "Type Approval Technical Standards Regulations" provides that applications for the type approval of terminal equipment shall include one sample of the terminal equipment corresponding to the model for which approval is sought, with the submitted sample being complete in all respects, including all necessary accessories, in order to enable the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to conduct a full technical evaluation. In addition, the application should include a declaration of conformity issued by the manufacturer, demonstrating compliance of the applied device with the relevant standards, such as radio frequency (RF), safety, specific absorption rate (SAR), and electromagnetic compatibility/electromagnetic interference (EMC/EMI), or any other standards as may be required by the Authority from time to time; and, where requested by the PTA, detailed test reports substantiating the standards referenced in the declaration of conformity, including, as applicable, reports relating to RF, safety, SAR, and EMC/EMI.

The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) establishes a safe harbour regime for intermediaries for copyright infringements. According to Art. 38 of the PECA, there is a civil or criminal liability limitation for service providers for content posted by users unless it is proven that the service provider had “specific actual knowledge and willful intent to proactively and positively participate” in cybercrimes committed the Act. However, it is reported that the Removal and Blocking of Unlawful Online Content (Procedure, Oversight, and Safeguards) Rules 2020 passed in November 2020 create new obligations and liabilities for social media companies, which can be in contradiction of limitation of intermediary liability provisions for technology companies in PECA.

The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) establishes a safe harbour regime for intermediaries beyond copyright infringements. According to Art. 38 of the PECA, there is a civil or criminal liability limitation for service providers for content posted by users unless it is proven that the service provider had “specific actual knowledge and willful intent to proactively and positively participate” in cybercrimes committed to the Act. However, it is reported that the Removal and Blocking of Unlawful Online Content (Procedure, Oversight, and Safeguards) Rules 2020 passed in November 2020 create new obligations and liabilities for social media companies, which can be in contradiction of limitation of intermediary liability provisions for technology companies in PECA.

Pakistan does not possess a comprehensive legal framework that affords effective protection to trade secrets. In the absence of a standalone trade secrets statute, confidential information is instead protected through contractual instruments such as non‑disclosure agreements and confidentiality undertakings, as well as through common law remedies, including the tort of breach of confidence.