Punjab Assembly Seeks Social Media Ban Under 16 Pakistan

Punjab – (Staff Resporter/Web Desk) – The Punjab Assembly has called for a social media ban under 16 Pakistan, asking the federal government to stop children from using these platforms without proper checks. Lawmakers passed the resolution on Tuesday, marking a strong step toward protecting young users online.

The move was tabled by treasury member Sarah Ahmad. She urged the House to take child safety seriously, given how deeply social media has entered everyday life for young people across the country.

Through this resolution, the Punjab government has asked the Centre to bring in a proper legal ban. Children under 16 would only be allowed to use social media with a parent’s or guardian’s consent. A trusted age-verification process would also be required.

Lawmakers said protecting the mental, physical and moral growth of children is the state’s duty. They pointed out that harmful content online is putting young minds under stress and putting them at risk in many other ways too.

The House also asked the Pakistan Telecom

munication Authority to step in. It wants PTA to make sure every social media platform sets up a working age-verification system. This would help stop underage children from signing up in the first place.

Social media companies were also told to follow proper child protection rules. Lawmakers said these platforms must act fast to remove harmful content and build a safer space for young users.

Beyond just rules, the resolution also focused on awareness. It called on both federal and provincial bodies to run regular campaigns. These campaigns would guide parents, teachers and children on safe and responsible internet habits.

Digital safety, lawmakers said, isn’t something children can manage alone. Parents and teachers need simple, clear guidance too, so they can help kids use the internet responsibly.

The resolution further asked for better coordination between federal and provincial institutions. Officials believe a joined-up system, backed by solid laws, is the only way to truly protect children online.

This isn’t just a local issue. Around the world, governments are debating similar age limits for social media, worried about how early exposure affects children’s mental health. Punjab’s resolution adds Pakistan to that growing conversation.

For now, the resolution is a strong recommendation, not yet a law. Its success will depend on how quickly the federal government acts and how seriously platforms take these new demands.

Parents across Punjab have welcomed the move, though many are still asking how such a ban would actually work in daily life. Age verification, in particular, remains a tricky challenge for tech platforms worldwide.

Still, the resolution sends a clear message: children’s online safety is no longer being ignored. If followed through, Pakistan could soon join countries taking real, legal steps to protect kids on social media.