Punjab Online Safety Act, 2026 (Draft)

About this law

What the draft is

The Punjab Online Safety Act, 2026 is a proposed provincial law, not yet in force, intended to curb harassment and blackmail on social media in Punjab. On 10 April 2026 a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz approved its drafting, and the provincial government announced that an initial draft had been prepared and would soon be presented to the Punjab Assembly. The government said it would ensure "exemplary punishment" for people who harass or blackmail others online.

The text of the draft has not been made public, so its definitions, offences and penalties are not yet known. The announcement came with a set of new institutions: a Punjab Cyber Crime Unit to be set up once the law is passed; a Cyber Patrol Wing and a Cyber Police Academy within the Punjab Police; special mobile units to help minors report abuse without visiting a police station; complaints through a virtual police station, front desks and the "PKM" mobile app with the complainant's identity kept confidential; and an "advanced intelligence system" for monitoring social media.

Background

Cybercrime has so far been a federal matter in Pakistan, handled under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 (PECA). In May 2025 the federal National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) replaced the FIA's cybercrime wing. Dawn reported that Punjab decided to build its own capacity because of dissatisfaction with the NCCIA, which faces a severe shortage of staff, thousands of complaints a month and a large backlog. Provincial ministers, including Information Minister Azma Bokhari, had also filed NCCIA complaints over what they called online character assassination of the Sharif family.

Under Article 142 of the Constitution, provinces may legislate on criminal law and procedure, so a provincial cyber-offence law can exist alongside PECA. In June 2026 Punjab also drafted a separate bill, the Punjab Control of Habitual Offenders and Anti-Social Behaviour Act, 2026, that would criminalise cyberbullying, online blackmail, digital extortion and covert recording.

What it could mean for online speech

Protecting women and children from sextortion, stalking and blackmail is a real need, and victims have long complained that federal agencies are slow to act. But until the draft is published, it is not clear how it will define harassment or what it will allow the police to do. Two features of the announcement deserve scrutiny from anyone who posts in Punjab: the plan for a provincial social media monitoring and surveillance system, and the government's own framing of online criticism of its leaders as "character assassination". If those concerns shape the final text, a law presented as protecting victims could also be used against critical speech, as PECA has been. Silenced will update this page when the bill is tabled in the Punjab Assembly.