Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on Thursday said under the Citizens Protection [against Online Harm] Rules 2020, social media companies would have to open offices in Pakistan, follow laws of the land, and get registered and share their data with the authority concerned.

Talking to news-persons here outside the Parliament House, she said framing rules were necessary for stopping online propaganda against national solidarity and spread of sectarian hate material etc.

Dr Firdous said at present, there was no mechanism in Pakistan for regulation of the social media, which was being used to spread material against socio-cultural and religious values. The government had to appeal the social media companies for removal of objectionable material.

She said the rules were made for the protection of ideological and geographical boundaries of the country and rights of the consumers. After their implementation, the social media companies would be bound to remove objectionable material within six to 24 hours, she added.

She rubbished the claim that the rules were being made to impose restrictions on freedom of expression, which were in fact aimed at facilitating the consumers and protecting the national interests.

The social media companies would have the right to appeal against the decision of the authority concerned in a high court, she added.

She said with the implementation of rules, the payment of millions of dollars to the social media companies would also be regulated through a mechanism.