Chairperson of the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau Punjab and Member of the Punjab Assembly, Sarah Ahmad, has called for immediate legislation to regulate children’s access to social media, saying the unchecked use of digital platforms is exposing young users to serious psychological, emotional, and physical risks.
In an exclusive interview with Daily Times, Sarah Ahmad said the resolution she submitted in the Punjab Assembly seeking to restrict social media access for children under the age of 16 was not merely based on global trends but also on realities being witnessed across Pakistani households.
She said the issue had become deeply personal after observing the growing dependence of children on social media within her own family and through her work at the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau. “This is no longer an isolated problem. Almost every family is facing the consequences of excessive social media use among children,” she said.
According to Sarah Ahmad, children are increasingly suffering from anxiety, depression, social isolation, digital addiction, and behavioural changes as a result of spending long hours on online platforms. She said these concerns are consistently reflected in cases handled by the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau, where children are often found vulnerable to cyberbullying, online exploitation, exposure to inappropriate content, and other forms of digital abuse.
She maintained that protecting children in the digital world is both a constitutional obligation and a moral responsibility of the state. “Technology should empower children, not endanger their mental health or compromise their safety,” she remarked.
Referring to the proposed legislation, Sarah Ahmad said the objective is to introduce effective age-verification mechanisms that prevent children below the age of 16 from freely accessing social media platforms. She added that similar regulatory measures have already been adopted in countries such as Australia, France, China, and several states in the United States, demonstrating that protecting minors online has become a global priority.
She stressed that Pakistan should not lag behind in addressing emerging digital threats and called upon the federal government, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), lawmakers, technology companies, educators, and parents to collectively develop a comprehensive legal framework that ensures children’s online safety.
Sarah Ahmad rejected the perception that the proposal was intended to discourage the use of technology. Instead, she said the aim is to promote responsible and age-appropriate digital engagement while safeguarding children from harmful online influences during their formative years.
Highlighting the Punjab government’s commitment to child welfare, she said that under the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, protecting children remains a top priority. She expressed hope that the resolution would receive support from all political stakeholders and lead to meaningful legislation that guarantees every child a safe childhood and a secure digital future.
She concluded by saying that the debate should not be about restricting children’s freedoms but about protecting their well-being, mental health, and future in an increasingly digital world.