Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 — Section 2A: Establishment of the Authority

2A. Establishment of the Authority.__ (1) As soon as may be after the commencement of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025 ( of 2025), the Federal Government shall, by notification in the official Gazette, establish an Authority to be known as the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority for carrying out the purposes of this Act.

(2)The Authority shall be a body corporate having perpetual succession and a common seal and may sue and be sued in its own name with powers subject to and for the purposes of this Act to hold and dispose of property and to enter into contract.

(3)The principal office of the Authority shall be at Islamabad and it may set up other offices in the provincial capitals and at such other places across Pakistan as the Authority may deem appropriate.

(l)issue directions to the relevant authorities to block or remove the unlawful or offensive content for the reasons to be recorded in writing for a period of thirty days subject to grant of another extension if any for maximum period of thirty days by majority of all the members of the Authority;

(m)coordinate or engage with other authorities, international agencies or organizations, in any study, training or cooperation project related to online safety;

(n)enter into contracts as may be necessary for the discharge of any of its powers and functions;

(o)engage in human resource development and training of its officers and staff;

(p)liaise and interact with counterpart organizations in other countries for capacity building and exchange of information;

(q)carry out capacity building and training of relevant entrepreneurs and providing them with facilities, including but not limited to, setting up incubation centers to promote responsible social media platforms;

(r)coordinate the implementation of any foreign-aided technical assistance projects;

(s)make regulations for receiving or processing complaints and to provide a remedial mechanism;

(t)to initiate action on any contravention of the provisions of this Act or rules made thereunder on its own motion or on receipt of an application as the case may be;

(u)constitute such committees or sub-committees, for the performance of its functions, as it may deem appropriate; and

(v)perform any other function that is ancillary, incidental or consequential to any of the aforesaid functions.