PECA Amendment Bill (2025)

Briefing

By Rahnuma · AI-generated

The Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025 significantly overhauls PECA (XL of 2016) by establishing the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority (Chapter 1A, sections 2A-2P), mandatory enlistment requirements for social media platforms (Chapter 1B, section 2Q), and a dedicated Social Media Protection Tribunal (Chapter 1C, sections 2V-2X). The Act introduces a new offense for fake/false information dissemination (section 26A) with penalties up to three years imprisonment or Rs 2 million fine, replaces the FIA Cyber Crime Wing with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) under section 29, and enumerates nine categories of unlawful or offensive online content (section 2R). Key governance structures include 24-hour complaint resolution timelines (section 2C), five-year non-extendable terms for Authority members (section 2D), and 90-day case resolution deadlines for the Tribunal (section 2W).

Plain-language explanation

The PECA Amendment Act 2025 creates a new regulatory framework for social media in Pakistan. It establishes an Authority in Islamabad that will oversee social media platforms, require them to officially register with the government, and have power to block platforms that do not comply. The Authority can order removal of content that it considers unlawful within 24 hours of a complaint. A new investigation agency called NCCIA replaces the FIA Cyber Crime Wing to handle digital crime investigations. The Act also creates a special Tribunal to hear disputes and appeals within 90 days, with final appeals going to the Supreme Court. Companies face new obligations to register, maintain complaint systems, and respond to government takedown requests. The Act criminalizes spreading fake news with up to three years prison or Rs 2 million fine. A five-member Council handles public complaints. There is a six-month transition period where old rules continue until the new Authority and NCCIA are fully operational.

Compliance & opportunity checklist

Enlist your social media platform with the Authority as required under section 2Q and maintain compliance with prescribed conditions
Establish a user-friendly complaint submission procedure for reporting unlawful or offensive content per section 2S
Review content moderation policies to address the nine categories of unlawful content under section 2R including aspersions, fake news, and hate speech
Prepare internal processes to respond to Authority takedown requests within the 24-hour window under section 2C
Monitor for the establishment of NCCIA as the successor to FIA Cyber Crime Wing and update legal contacts accordingly
Verify whether your platform qualifies as a social media platform under section 2 definition before assuming compliance obligations
Review conflict of interest policies if company leadership may interact with Authority members under section 2H restrictions
Audit data retention and forensic capabilities to align with NCCIA investigation requirements under section 29(7)

Key numbers

Maximum imprisonment for fake information dissemination

3 years

· 26A

Maximum fine for fake information dissemination

2,000,000 PKR

· 26A

Authority response time to fake information complaints

24 hours

· 2C

Initial blocking period for unlawful content

30 days

· 2B(j)

Maximum content blocking extension period

30 days

· 2B(j)

Tribunal case resolution deadline

90 days

· 2W(7)

Tribunal appeal window to Supreme Court

60 days

· 2X

Vacancy appointment window for Authority

3 months

· 2E(2)

Vacancy appointment window for Tribunal

1 month

· 2V(6)

Minimum experience for Authority Chairperson

15 years

· 2D(2)

Minimum experience for Tribunal members

12 years

· 2V(2)

Authority composition

1 Chairperson plus 8 members (3 ex-officio)

· 2D(1)

NCCIA Director General term

3 years non-extendable

· 29(3)

Meeting notice requirement for Authority

7 days advance notice

· 2F(3)

Quorum for Authority meetings

5 members including 2 ex-officio and Chairperson

· 2F(2)

Frequently asked

By Rahnuma · AI-generated

What is the new regulatory body established by this Act and what are its core powers?

The Act establishes the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority (sections 2A-2P) headquartered in Islamabad with provincial offices. Its core powers include regulating unlawful or offensive content on social media platforms accessible from Pakistan, granting/refusing/suspending/revoking platform enlistment, issuing guidelines and directives to platforms, prescribing fines for contraventions, and partially or fully blocking non-compliant platforms (section 2B). The Authority may also issue directions to block content for up to 30 days, extendable by another 30 days by majority vote.

How does this Act affect our company's obligations as a social media platform operating in Pakistan?

Under section 2Q, social media platforms must enlist with the Authority on payment of prescribed fees and comply with additional conditions the Authority deems appropriate. Section 2S requires platforms to maintain effective and transparent complaint handling procedures accessible to users. Section 2V empowers the Authority to approach the Tribunal for action if platforms violate or fail to implement its directions. Non-compliance may result in partial or full platform blocking until compliance is achieved (section 2B(h)).

What constitutes unlawful or offensive online content under the amended Act?

Section 2R defines nine categories: content against Pakistan's ideology; content inciting public to violate law or take law into own hands; content inciting damage to governmental or private property; content coercing or intimidating public; content inciting religious, sectarian, or ethnic hatred to stir violence; obscene or pornographic content; fake or false content; aspersions against judiciary, armed forces, or parliamentarians; and content promoting terrorism or violence against the State. Additionally, expunged parliamentary proceedings and statements of proscribed organizations cannot be streamed (sections 2R(2)-(3)).

What happens to existing FIA Cyber Crime investigation authority under this amendment?

Section 29 establishes the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) as the dedicated investigation agency, replacing the Cyber Crime Wing of the Federal Investigation Agency. Upon NCCIA's establishment, all personnel, cases, inquiries, investigations, assets, properties, budget, liabilities, rights, and obligations of the defunct FIA Cyber Crime Wing transfer to NCCIA (section 29(5)). Only authorized officers of NCCIA may investigate offenses under this Act, though the Federal Government may constitute joint investigation teams with other law enforcement agencies (section 30).

What are the penalties for disseminating fake or false information under this Act?

Section 26A criminalizes intentional dissemination, public exhibition, or transmission of information known or believed to be false or fake that is likely to cause fear, panic, or disorder in society. Violators face imprisonment up to three years and/or a fine up to two million rupees. Separately, any person aggrieved by fake information may apply to the Authority for removal or blocking, which must be processed within 24 hours (section 2C). These provisions are included in the schedule of compoundable and non-compoundable offenses under section 43.

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