*ISLAMABAD: A total of 6,149 websites have been blocked last year by thePakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on recommendation of WebEvaluation Cell (WEC) established by Ministry of Religious Affairs andInter-faith Harmony.*
Web Evaluation Cell (WEC) has been assigned to scrutinize websitespromoting sectarianism and containing objection-able materials.
WEC has so far evaluated as many as 46,200 websites. Out of which thecomplaints of 15,481 were sent to Pakistan Telecommunication Authority(PTA). And as a result, 6,149 domains were blocked by the PTA.
Meanwhile in March this year, PTA had informed the Supreme Court (SC) thatapproximately 0.4 million websites promoting obscene content have beenblocked by the body.
PTA also stated that due to technical restraints, the complete blockage ofobscene material on the internet is not possible in real time, but by usingalternate technical methods including proxies the cut down is possible.
It was informed that the PTA had already initiated steps for awareness byrequesting the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to take necessary steps toinstall suitable filters in all educational, technical and vocationalinstitutions where free access to the internet is offered.
Additional Attorney General (AAG) Nayyar Rizvi had submitted a report onbehalf of PTA, saying that 9,846 proxies had been blocked.