Punjab Assembly passes resolution seeking ban on social media for under-16s

Punjab Assembly passes resolution seeking ban on social media for under-16s.

Key points

• Amjad Mahmood Published September 1, 2026 Updated September 1, 2026 08: 51pm.
• According to official data cited, 2, 558 Muslim prisoners benefited from the facility after obtaining religious education between 2020 and 2025.
• The resolution was submitted to the Punjab Assembly in July by the chairperson of the Child Protection Bureau, Sarah Ahmad.
• LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution seeking an effective legal ban on social media accounts for children under 16 years of age.
• Amjad Mahmood is a Lahore-based reporter for Dawn with over three and a half decades of experience.

Amjad Mahmood Published September 1, 2026 Updated September 1, 2026 08: 51pm. Join our Whatsapp Channel. Add Dawn as a trusted source.

Meanwhile, the resolution was submitted to the Punjab Assembly in July by the chairperson of the Child Protection Bureau, Sarah Ahmad. It pressed effective legislation and a coordinated mechanism between federal and provincial institutions to protect minors from the growing dangers of social media.

According to The resolution, social media apply was exposing children to cyberbullying, online sexual exploitation, inappropriate content, mental stress and other serious risks.

It referred to measures introduced in Australia, France, China and a number of states of the United States to regulate social media apply by underage children, and pressed the administration to introduce similar effective legal safeguards in Pakistan.

For context, the proposal comes at a time when governments worldwide are considering stricter regulation of children's employ of social media against the backdrop of mounting evidence linking excessive online activity with mental health problems, cyber abuse and exposure to harmful content.

While others are examining stronger age-verification requirements and enhanced child online safety laws, a number of countries, including Australia, besides the EU have lately moved towards imposing age-based restrictions on access to social media platforms.

If adopted by the Punjab Assembly, the resolution will serve as a recommendation to the federal administration. It has legislative authority over telecommunications, internet regulation and digital platforms.

Meanwhile, the House additionally adopted a resolution seeking equal religious education facilities and examination opportunities for prisoners belonging to minority communities.

Meanwhile, the resolution, moved by Treasury member Raheela Khadim and adopted by majority vote, observed that under Rule 215 of the Punjab Prison Rules, 1978, prisoners could receive remission in their sentences for acquiring religious education in accordance with the law.

According to official data cited, 2, 558 Muslim prisoners benefited from the facility after obtaining religious education between 2020 and 2025. The resolution stressed the need for effective implementation of a similar system for minority prisoners.

As provided under the law, it demanded that Christian, Hindu, Sikh and prisoners belonging to other minority faiths should be given equal opportunities to study their respective religious curricula, appear in examinations and receive sentence remission upon successfully completing religious education.

Amjad Mahmood is a Lahore-based reporter for Dawn with over three and a half decades of experience. As well as Punjab's politics and governance, he covers agricultural problems. He can be discovered on X at @Amjad012345.

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