The Punjab Assembly unanimously passed a resolution on Tuesday calling for a ban on social media accounts for children under the age of 16. The resolution emphasized the need for an effective age-verification mechanism on digital platforms to safeguard children’s physical, mental, psychological, and moral development, highlighting this as both a constitutional and moral duty of the state.
In a significant development, the resolution referenced international trends in regulating minors’ access to social media and stressed the necessity of legislation in Pakistan to ensure a secure digital environment for children. It urged the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to implement a robust age-verification system across all social media platforms, preventing users below 16 from creating or maintaining accounts. The resolution also called on federal and provincial bodies to conduct digital-awareness campaigns aimed at parents, teachers, and children to promote safe internet usage and highlight online risks.
Moreover, the Assembly advocated for cooperation between federal and provincial institutions and the enactment of effective laws to protect children online.
Meanwhile, the House passed a resolution promoting local manufacturing of solar panels and modern batteries, while urging the government to develop a policy for the safe disposal and recycling of used equipment. This resolution, moved by opposition lawmaker Nadia Khurr, noted the significant growth in solar energy and electric vehicle usage in Punjab over the past eight to nine years. It highlighted concerns about the lack of policies or legislation addressing the disposal of expired solar panels and batteries, which poses environmental and public health risks.
The resolution called on the Punjab government to establish legislation and policies for the safe recycling and disposal of these materials, along with instituting an annual inspection and fitness certification system for batteries used in electric vehicles.
During the session, Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan halted the Punjab Waste and Sanitation Workers Dignity, Safety, Security and Welfare Bill 2026 from being formally introduced, directing its proponent to consult with the government first. The speaker stressed the importance of assessing the bill’s financial implications and encouraged collaboration between its mover, Ahmad Iqbal, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Law, Khalid Ranjha. The bill is expected to be reconsidered after these consultations.
The Assembly also approved several education-related bills, including the Ghanni University Sheikhupura Bill 2026 and the Revolution University Faisalabad Bill 2026, both moved by government lawmaker Samiullah Khan. Additionally, the Punjab Private Educational Institution Bill 2025, presented by Amjad Ali Javed, was passed.
In an adjournment motion, opposition lawmaker Ahmar Rashid Bhatti raised concerns about illegal housing societies in Lahore, alleging that many had collected money from citizens without providing promised plots. He reported that individuals who inquired about their plots faced threats, calling for government intervention to protect investors. Parliamentary Secretary for Housing Sultan Bajwa informed the Assembly that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was already investigating the matter.
The speaker expressed serious concern over the proliferation of unregulated housing schemes and questioned how anyone could declare land a housing society and collect money without oversight. He urged the housing department to provide a detailed response by the next day and warned that a parliamentary committee might be formed if the issue remained unresolved. Amjad Ali Javed suggested establishing a dedicated complaint center to assist victims of fraudulent housing schemes.
During Question Hour, opposition member Nadia Khurr highlighted an alleged shortage of veterinary medicines in Muzaffargarh’s hospitals and dispensaries, accusing some staff of selling medicines outside official premises. Parliamentary Secretary Asim Sher Makan responded by assuring the availability of basic medicines and announced plans to upgrade all tehsil headquarters hospitals in Muzaffargarh into modern veterinary facilities in the next financial year.
Opposition Leader Moin Riaz Qureshi raised the issue of an alleged attack on journalist Talal Ishtiaq, reporting harassment of his family and an attempted abduction of his nine-year-old son. He also mentioned that Imtinan Shahid and his staff received threatening calls from unknown sources. Qureshi condemned these incidents and called for a thorough investigation, reaffirming the opposition’s commitment to press freedom. Panel Chairman Samiullah Khan and Law Minister Rana Muhammad Iqbal also expressed support for journalists, with Iqbal assuring a comprehensive inquiry into the matter.
In another unanimous resolution, the Assembly called for providing religious teaching books and instructors to minority prisoners in Punjab jails. Moved by government lawmaker Raheela Khadim Hussain, the resolution noted that between 2020 and 2025, approximately 2,558 Muslim prisoners benefited from sentence reductions by completing religious education. It emphasized the importance of extending similar opportunities to prisoners from minority communities to facilitate equitable implementation.
