Social media has recently been flooded with claims that TikTok LIVE has been banned in Pakistan. The claims are misleading.
TikTok LIVE was never officially rolled out in Pakistan, meaning there has been no new ban on the feature. According to industry sources, when TikTok’s main service was restored after previous suspensions in the country, it was understood that the platform’s LIVE streaming feature would continue to remain unavailable for Pakistani users.
The TikTok app itself is fully accessible in Pakistan. However, the LIVE feature is restricted by TikTok at the platform level, not by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), senior sources confirmed to ProPakistani.
Sources further said that if individuals in Pakistan are receiving and withdrawing earnings generated through TikTok LIVE despite the restriction, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) may have grounds to examine or regulate such cross-border fund flows.
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Is TikTok LIVE Blocked by PTA?
No.
Recent resolutions tabled in provincial assemblies calling for a nationwide ban on TikTok have sparked confusion, but they do not change the status of TikTok LIVE.
The LIVE feature remains unavailable because TikTok has not enabled it for Pakistan, rather than due to any restriction imposed by the PTA.
TikTok has previously stated that LIVE is not supported in Pakistan. Accounts appearing to broadcast from within the country are generally using unofficial methods to bypass the regional restriction.
Can Non-PTA Phones Access TikTok LIVE?
No.
There is no evidence that a phone’s PTA registration status has any impact on TikTok LIVE availability. Using a non-PTA or unregistered device does not unlock the feature.
How Are Some Pakistani Creators Streaming Live?
Several creators and industry insiders told ProPakistani that some users access TikTok LIVE through unofficial workarounds, including:
- Using a foreign SIM card while in Pakistan.
- Connecting through a VPN after removing the local SIM.
- Installing modified versions of the TikTok app.
- Using TikTok LIVE Studio on a computer connected through a foreign internet connection.
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The Verdict
The claim that TikTok LIVE has been banned in Pakistan is false.
The feature has never been officially available in the country. Likewise, claims that non-PTA phones enable TikTok LIVE are also false. Although some creators appear to access the feature through unofficial means, TikTok has never disclosed the exact criteria behind its regional eligibility system.
