PECA 2016 § 2B — Powers and functions of the Authority

Statutory text (English)

(1) In addition to the functions and powers
specified otherwise in this Act, the Authority shall have the following powers and functions, namely:—
(a) promote education and research in the related field;
(b) promote, incentivize and facilitate social media platform;
(c) promote awareness about issues in the public and private sector through print,
digital or social and electronic media etc., or any other medium as the Authority
may deem appropriate;
(d) ensure online safety and rights of persons on social media platforms from any
kind of harm;
(e) regulate the unlawful or offensive content on the social media platforms
accessible from Pakistan;
(f) regulate enlistment of social media platforms;
(g) grant, renew, refuse, suspend and revoke enlistment of social media platform;
(h) to partially or fully block social media platform if it fails to comply with the
provisions under this Act until the compliance is made;
(i) issue guidelines, directives and standards for social media platforms;
(j) proceed on applications made on any contravention under this Act and take
actions accordingly;
(k) prescribe fines for contravention of the provisions of Chapters 1A and 1B or
rules or regulations made thereunder;
(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 fo rmaximum 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.

Source and verification

Source citation: PECA 2016 (Act XL of 2016) s.2B: Pakistan Code portal consolidated official PDF 'THE PREVENTION OF ELECTRONIC CRIMES ACT, 2016' (incl. Act XXXVII of 2023 & Act II of 2025 amendments), p. 11, 12, ingested 2026-09-15. Automated transcription from official source (pypdf extraction, audited artifact repair); human admin re-check required before production.

Verification status: verified · Text status: auto_transcribed_verified_source

The record cites an official source, but its transcription is automated or only partly checked; a human re-check is pending.

Official Urdu text status: pending_official_urdu_text. Where official Urdu wording has not been sourced, Qanoon does not substitute an unverified translation for the statutory text.

Historical text notes

1 historical record is linked to this section. Historical wording may be incomplete or pending verification; it is not presented as current law.

• Date not confirmed: Consolidated current text as published in the official Pakistan Code PDF (p. 11, 12) — reflects all amendments recorded in the official footnotes up to ingest date 2026-09-15. Automated transcription; per-amendment…

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