ISLAMABAD: The federal government has appointed Advocate General Islamabad Ayaz Shaukat as the first chairman of the newly established Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority (SMPRA).
The Authority was established under the amended Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025. It will consist of eight members. The government has already notified five members: Sohail Iqbal, Adnan Khan, Muhammad Salman Zafar, Fahad Malik, and Muhammad Saad Ali.
The remaining two members will include a journalist and a software engineer. The chairman and members will serve a five-year term. The Authority will operate as a corporate body with the power to sue and be sued, with its headquarters in Islamabad and the option to establish regional offices across the country.
The SMPRA has been granted extensive powers to regulate unlawful and offensive online content and oversee the registration and licensing of digital platforms. It may also enforce compliance, suspend or revoke licences and block platforms partially or completely in case of violations.
The authority will also issue guidelines, impose fines and direct relevant entities to remove or restrict unlawful content.
The Authority will also handle complaints, initiate actions independently, promote online safety, support research and awareness, and coordinate with international organisations.
