The Government of Pakistan has officially launched the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority (SMPRA) under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025, marking a major step toward regulating online content.

The Ministry of Interior issued a notification confirming the appointment of the authority’s chairman and five members, effectively making the body operational.

Senior lawyer Ayyaz Shaukat has been appointed as the first chairman of SMPRA for a five-year term. He currently serves as the Advocate General of Islamabad and is expected to assume charge after the upcoming Eid holidays. All appointments have been made in line with the provisions of the new law.

The authority also includes five members, among them senior journalists Sohail Iqbal Bhatti, Adnan Khan, Muhammad Salman Zafar, Fahad Malik, and Saad Ali, as confirmed in the official notification.

Under its mandate, SMPRA will handle complaints related to false, misleading, or harmful content circulating on social media platforms. Individuals will be able to file complaints directly, and the authority is required to issue decisions within 24 hours of receiving a report.

SMPRA also has the power to block or remove content deemed harmful or misleading, strengthening regulatory control over digital platforms in Pakistan.