ISLAMABAD ( BMZ REPORT )
On the recommendation of PTA, Government of Pakistan has allowed access to recently launched country version of YouTube for Internet users in Pakistan. YouTube was previously blocked on the recommendation of the regulator i.e. PTA in order to fully comply with the order of the Honorable Supreme Court concerning blocking of the blasphemous movie “Innocence of Muslims” on YouTube and other websites in September 2012 as at that time it was not technically possible to block the offending material on YouTube without blocking the YouTube on IP level.
Recently, Google has launched a country (localized version) of YouTube (YouTube.pk) and confirmed that YouTube.pk does not contain any known copies of the blasphemous movie “Innocence of Muslims”. Moreover, in case any copy of the offending material appears on YouTube website in future, Google has provided an online web process through which requests for blocking access of the offending material can be made by PTA to Google directly and Google/YouTube will accordingly restrict access to the said offending material for users within Pakistan.
Earlier, on jan.16,2016, PTA had brought the above developments to the notice of the Honorable Supreme Court vide a report filed in continuation of its earlier compliance report filed with supreme court on 17.9.2012. Subsequently, PTA while withdrawing its earlier recommendations sent to Ministry of IT on 17.9.2012, also requested the Ministry of IT to review earlier directions. Ministry of IT in view of PTA’s withdrawal of its earlier request of blocking YouTube at IP level and considering the recent developments elaborated by PTA has accordingly allowed access to the country version of YouTube and has also directed PTA to ensure continuous compliance with the Supreme Court under the revised mechanism
UFone Welcomed Supreeme Court decision on You Tube.
Ufone Spokesperson welcomed the decision of Supreme Court of Pakistan for removing ban on YouTube. He appreciated PTA to pursue this case and immediately issued notification to internet service providers to unblock world’s famous video sharing site.
With the unblocking of YouTube, millions of consumers will get benefit from fastest internet 3G services of mobile phone operators. The 3G subscribers’ base will grow faster in different parts of the country.
We hope that utility of internet service among the customers will increase on mobile internet, now customers could not only watch videos related to education, information and entertainment but they will upload videos to disseminate their massage to a large audience worldwide for growth of their business.
Along with Metropolitan cities Mobile phone users will watch videos of learning and tutorials in small cities also.
In order to promote 3G service/ mobile internet, Ufone introduced mobile handsets and 3G bundles on affordable packages, hence a strata of low income could also access internet service on mobile phone.