ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s government will review its sweeping rules on Internet censorship released earlier this month, officials said, after the unveiling led to an uproar from global Internet companies and criticism from local civil libertarians that the regulations violated freedom of speech.
Earlier this week, through a group called the Asia Internet Coalition (AIC), global tech giants Facebook, Twitter and Google warned Prime Minister Imran Khan in a scathing letter that they would leave the country and its 70 million Internet users in a digital lurch if the new rules remained as written and were not revised.
In response to the public outcry, the government constituted a four-member committee and officials pledged this week they would review the new rules in consultation with segments of civil society, tech companies and journalists, and would find new consensus on regulating Pakistan’s digital media content.
“The new rules will ensure complete transparency and freedom of expression, and we are having our first meeting on Monday over the issue,” Dr. Arslan Khalid, the Prime Minister’s focal person on digital media, and a member of the new committee, told Arab News on Saturday.
“We cannot leave social media unregulated to spread hate speech and harm our national security,” Khalid said, but added: “The government doesn’t intend to stifle freedom of expression either.”
In 2018, Prime Minister Imran Khan assumed office in Pakistan in huge part on the back of his party’s social media presence and popularity online, but his government has shown little tolerance for criticism of the state and its institutions since coming to power.
Pakistani government’s requests for removal of content from global social media sites Facebook, Google and Twitter have vastly increased in the last two years, according to the companies’ transparency reports that are available online. Last year, hundreds of thousands of websites were additionally blocked by the government to censor blasphemy, criticism of the state, pornography and other material.
But in the absence of any law of data protection in Pakistan or local rules regulating social networking platforms, the government has had a hard time getting compliance from global companies.
Under the government’s new regulations, known as the “Citizens Protection (Against Online Harm) Rules 2020,” social media companies would have to remove or block any ‘unlawful content’ from their websites within 24 hours after being reported by a government officer known as the national coordinator.
Additionally, the companies are required to set up permanent offices in Islamabad, and set up servers to store data in the country. In case a social media company fails to abide by the provision of these rules, it can be blocked entirely, face a penalty of over $3 million or both.
Firdous Ashiq Awan, Pakistan’s de facto information minister said this month the rules were introduced to protect the country’s social, cultural and religious values, and officials have denied the regulations are aimed at curbing freedom of expression.
But information technology experts say the new rules have the potential to cripple the country’s digital economy as Pakistani users and businesses face the risk of isolation from the growth potential of the Internet economy.
“The government should immediately de-notify these rules,” Badar Khushnood, an IT expert who has worked for Facebook and Twitter, told Arab News.
“The existing rules are a stumbling block to our freelancers and online businesses that are helping the country fight unemployment and bring in foreign exchange.”
Journalists’ bodies have also rejected the rules, saying they are meant to curb freedom of expression guaranteed in the constitution.
“We cannot accept these draconian rules,” Afzal Butt, former Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, told Arab News. “The government wants to stifle the freedom of speech and press under their garb.”
Slammed by global tech giants, Pakistan to revisit Internet censorship rules
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Slammed by global tech giants, Pakistan to revisit Internet censorship rules
- Facebook, Twitter and Google threatened to leave Pakistan if new social media rules not revised
- New regulations aimed to control hate speech and content against national security, official says
Pakistan issues rain and flood alert for multiple regions from June 26–28
- Rains lashed Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province over last 24 hours, killing at least four and injuring 19
- Disaster management authority calls for drain clearance, deployment of emergency services measures
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Thursday issued a rain and flood alert for multiple regions in the country from June 26-28, warning local authorities to ensure preemptive measures are in place with the monsoon season expected to trigger heavy downpours in the coming days.
The Pakistan Meteorological (Met) Department forecast on Monday that several parts of the country are expected to receive heavy monsoon rains from June 25 onwards, urging masses to take precautions against the resulting flash floods and landslides in low lying and hilly areas. Rains have also lashed Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province over the last 24 hours, the provincial disaster management authority said on Thursday, killing at least four people and injuring 19 in rain-related incidents.
“National Emergencies Operation Center (NEOC) of NDMA has issued impact-based alerts due to expected widespread monsoon rainfall and associated flooding risks across several regions of Pakistan from 26th to 28th June,” the NDMA said in a press release.
It said heavy rain, windstorms, and thunderstorms are likely in multiple districts of Punjab including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Narowal, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Mianwali, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Multan and Islamabad cities.
“Urban flooding is particularly expected in Lahore, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Multan, Bahawalpur, and Rahim Yar Khan, with possible disruption of transportation, drainage overflow and interruption of essential services,” the statement said.
The disaster management authority said urban flooding is anticipated in Sindh’s Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Jamshoro, Shahid Benazirabad, and Sujawal cities due to rain and thunderstorm with isolated and heavy falls in the same period.
It said widespread moderate to heavy rainfall may affect Jacobabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Nawabshah, Khairpur, Kashmore, Tharparkar, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Sanghar, Tando Allahyar, Tando Muhammad Khan, and Badin in Sindh, posing threats of waterlogging, road blockages, and infrastructure damage.
“In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Chitral, Swat, Shangla, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Mansehra, and Battagram may experience moderate to heavy rainfall with possible flash flooding and landslides, particularly in vulnerable mountainous terrain,” the NDMA warned.
It said in Azad Kashmir, including Muzaffarabad, Neelum Valley, Bagh, Rawalakot, Haveli, and Hattian Bala, the forecast predicts moderate to heavy rainfall with the risk of flash floods, landslides, and riverine overflow. It said the Potohar region is also likely to be affected by similar weather patterns.
“NEOC has advised all provincial and district disaster management authorities to ensure preemptive measures such as drain clearance, public adviseries, deployment of emergency services, and readiness for evacuation or rescue operations where needed,” the disaster management authority said.
It advised residents in flood-prone areas, particularly near nullahs, low-lying zones and slopes, to remain alert and avoid unnecessary movement.
The authority called on emergency services to ensure readiness for any potential response operations, urging people to stay updated with real-time alerts and guidance from the official NDMA mobile application.
The NDMA’s warning comes as Pakistan braces for another season of extreme weather, following deadly heatwaves and catastrophic floods in recent years. Ranked among the ten most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, Pakistan is ramping up preparedness efforts, especially in Punjab, where authorities expect significantly above-average rainfall this monsoon.
Pakistan grouped with Saudi Arabia, Iraq in AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers
- Thirty-one international teams to partake in qualifiers from Sept. 20-24
- AFC Futsal Asian Cup Indonesia 2026 will be contested in Jan. 27-Feb. 7
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s football team has been selected in Group D along with Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Chinese Taipei for the qualifiers of the upcoming AFC Futsal Asian Cup Indonesia 2026, the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) confirmed on Thursday.
Thirty-one teams have confirmed their participation for the 11th qualifiers, which will take place between September 20 to 24. The draw has divided the teams into eight groups— seven groups of four and one group of three— with each to be played in a centralized league format.
“Our journey to the AFC Futsal Asian Cup Indonesia 2026 begins in Group D, sharing the pitch with hosts Saudi Arabia,” the PFF wrote on social media platform X.
“An exciting draw that sets the stage for some incredible matches. Time to prepare!“
India are in Group A with Kuwait, Australia and Mongolia while top seeds Thailand will have to contend with Korea Republic, Bahrain and Brunei Darussalam in Group B.
Four-time winners Japan are the top seeds in Group C with hosts Tajikistan, Macau and Cambodia their challengers. Group E will see Vietnam, Lebanon, hosts China and Hong Kong face each other while Group F includes Uzbekistan, Kyrgyz Republic (hosts), Timor-Leste and Palestine.
Iran, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates and Bangladesh are part of Group G while Afghanistan, Myanmar and Maldives are part of Group H.
The AFC Futsal Asian Cup Indonesia 2026 will be contested from January 27-February 7.
Pakistan says Roosevelt Hotel’s base valuation complete, will decide on transaction structure this month
- Hotel could fetch 4–5 times more under joint venture than in outright sale, privatization chief says
- Government hopes to finalize deal structure this June, has hired US consulting firm Jones Lang LaSalle
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has completed the baseline valuation of the Roosevelt Hotel in New York and is preparing to move forward with a transaction structure this month to privatize the state-owned property, the head of the Privatization Commission told Arab News this week.
The Roosevelt, a 1,015-room historic hotel in Midtown Manhattan, has long been one of Pakistan’s most prominent but politically sensitive overseas assets. Acquired by Pakistan International Airlines Investment Limited (PIAIL) in 1979, the hotel occupies a full city block on Madison Avenue and 45th Street. Over the past two decades, successive Pakistani governments have floated plans to sell, lease, or redevelop the property, but no proposal has advanced beyond early-stage planning.
Operations at the Roosevelt were suspended in 2020 following steep financial losses during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, Pakistan entered a short-term lease with the City of New York to use the property as a temporary shelter for asylum seekers, generating more than $220 million in projected rental income. That agreement ended in 2024 and no new revenue stream has since been announced.
“We have an idea of the asset valuation in Roosevelt,” Muhammad Ali, chairman of Pakistan’s Privatization Commission, said in an interview when asked about the timeline to privatize the hotel.
“We have appointed JLL [Jones Lang LaSalle], who are one of the top consultants in the US market. They have done their homework. They have done the market sounding also. We just need to get approval from the Cabinet Committee [on Privatization] on the structure, and we’ll move ahead.”
He added:
“So this year, before June, I’m hoping that on the Roosevelt, we will have gone ahead with execution of the transaction as far as whatever structure is decided.”
VALUATION AND TRANSACTION STRUCTURE
The Roosevelt, whose liabilities and losses the privatization chief did not disclose, is one of several state assets the government hopes will contribute to its target of raising Rs86 billion ($306 million) in privatization proceeds during the fiscal year starting July 1, alongside the sale of national carrier Pakistan International Airlines and three electricity distribution companies.
But how much money the hotel ultimately brings in, and its overall valuation, depended on the type of transaction structure adopted, Ali said.
If the government opted for a straightforward “as-is” sale and sold the property without securing any new permissions or approvals for zoning or development, the hotel would fetch the lowest price.
However, if the government first obtained the necessary permits and approvals that a buyer would typically need for redevelopment, the property’s value could double compared to the “as-is” sale.
Alternatively, if the government formed a joint venture with a private investor, sharing both the risks and future profits, the hotel could be worth four to five times more than its as-is valuation.
“So, depending on what sort of structure you have, how much risk you take, how much effort the government puts in, we can make a lot of money from this asset,” the privatization chief said.
“If we go with a joint venture structure, then this year we will only get the first advance payment, so that’s a small amount of money which will be coming in [FY26].”
India rejects signing Shanghai Cooperation Organization statement seen as pro-Pakistan
- Indian Defense says statement diluted India’s position on critical issues such as terrorism, regional security
- Singh, without explicitly naming Pakistan, urged the SCO to criticize countries that use “cross-border terrorism”
NEW DELHI, India: Beijing’s bid for enhanced regional leadership suffered a setback Thursday when India rejected signing a joint statement put before members of the China-backed Shanghai Cooperation Organization, saying it was pro-Pakistan in not mentioning April’s terror attack on Indian tourists.
Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said the statement diluted India’s position on critical issues such as terrorism and regional security, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak to the media.
India blames Pakistan for backing the gunmen behind the April 22 killing of 26 people, most of them Indian Hindu tourists, in India-controlled Kashmir, and has described it as a terror attack. Islamabad denies the charge.
Singh alleged that the joint statement “suited Pakistan’s narrative” because it did not include that attack but mentioned militant activities in Balochistan, the person said. Pakistan has repeatedly accused India of backing Balochistan freedom movement, allegations that India denies.
The signing ceremony came during a meeting of defense ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a regional grouping formed by China and Russia to counter US influence in Asia.
China has largely taken over running the SCO, staging joint drills and holding summits, while Russia is embroiled in its full-scale invasion of Ukraine and international isolation.
While little known globally, the SCO has become one of China’s main instruments to expand its political and economic reach into areas traditionally neutral, such as India, or closely linked to Russia such as Central Asia.
Thursday’s meeting took place in the east China city of Qingdao, home to China’s northern fleet.
Singh, without explicitly naming Pakistan, urged the SCO to criticize countries that use “cross-border terrorism as an instrument of policy and provide shelter to terrorists.” He said members should unite in eliminating terrorism and ensure accountability for those who aid such activities.
“Peace and prosperity cannot co-exist with terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in the hands of non-state actors and terror groups. Dealing with these challenges requires decisive action,” said Singh, according to a defense ministry statement.
The April 22 killings embroiled the two nuclear-armed nations in the most serious military confrontation in decades. After days of exchanging fire, they agreed to end all military actions under a US-brokered ceasefire.
On Wednesday, Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun held one-on-one meetings with his counterparts from Belarus, Iran, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia. India, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are also members.
“Unilateralism and protectionism are surging, while hegemonic, high-handed, and bullying acts severely undermine the international order, making these practices the biggest sources of chaos and harm,” Dong said according to the official Xinhua News Agency, in a swipe at the US and its allies.
China and India have decades-old border disputes and Beijing has become one of Pakistan’s closest allies.
Four dead, 19 injured as monsoon rains trigger building collapses, drownings in Punjab
- The provincial disaster agency has urged citizens to take precautionary measures as rains continue
- Authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have also warned of torrential rains, hailstorms in several districts
ISLAMABAD: At least four people were killed and 19 injured in rain-related incidents across Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province over the past 24 hours, the provincial disaster management authority said on Thursday, as monsoon downpours triggered building collapses and drownings in several districts.
The statement came as authorities in both Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa warned of continued rainfall through July 1, with Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issuing a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) alert for the country’s northern regions a day earlier.
“Two people died when weak, dilapidated structures collapsed in Okara and Bahawalnagar,” the Punjab PDMA said in a statement. “Two others drowned in separate incidents in Jhelum.”
Thirteen houses were also damaged in the province, mostly in rural or structurally vulnerable areas, the statement added.
Punjab’s disaster agency urged citizens to take precautionary measures and said financial compensation for the victims’ families would be provided under government policy.
Separately, the PDMA in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa warned of torrential rains and hailstorms in several districts from Thursday evening through July 1, with a risk of glacier bursts in the north.
It issued alerts to local administrations in Chitral, Swat, Upper and Lower Dir and Kohistan to initiate preemptive measures and inform nearby communities.
Pakistan is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, with a history of extreme weather events linked to erratic monsoon patterns, glacial melt and heatwaves.
In 2022, record floods killed over 1,700 people and caused more than $30 billion in damages.
On Wednesday, the NDMA said continued high temperatures and intense monsoon activity were putting stress on glacial lakes in Pakistan’s mountainous north, raising the risk of flash floods.
Valleys in Chitral and Ghizer are among the most vulnerable, with warnings issued to avoid travel near glaciers and riverbanks.
