The digital repression of LGBTQIA+ people in Pakistan has entered a new and alarming phase. After years of blocking gay dating apps, LGBTQIA+ websites, and online support platforms, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) — in coordination with FIA, NCCIA, and other state agencies — has now blocked access to PridePakistan.org inside Pakistan.

This is not an isolated act of censorship.
It is part of a systematic effort to erase, silence, and endanger the LGBTQIA+ community.

PridePakistan.org Blocked Nationwide — Even VPNs and Proxies Targeted

For many years, LGBTQIA+ Pakistanis have relied on PridePakistan.org as one of the only safe, community‑run platforms offering:

• Mental health support
• Legal information
• Emergency guidance
• Asylum resources
• Community connection
• Safety alerts

But instead of protecting vulnerable citizens, the state has chosen to criminalise access to support.

PTA has:

• Blocked PridePakistan.org across all major ISPs
• Blocked gay dating apps and LGBTQIA+ websites
• Blocked VPNs and proxy services commonly used to access PridePakistan.org
• Pressured tech companies to restrict LGBTQIA+ content

This is not “internet regulation.”
This is targeted digital persecution.

PTA Has Written to Social Media Platforms and Tech Companies to Block PridePakistan

In a deeply troubling escalation, PTA has written to multiple global platforms — including Linktree, social media companies, and IT service providers — instructing them to block access to PridePakistan.org and related resources inside Pakistan.

This means:

• LGBTQIA+ Pakistanis cannot access our Linktree
• Our social media links may be restricted
• Our educational resources are being censored
• Our safety guides are being intentionally hidden

This is an attempt to cut off the community from every possible lifeline.

A Pattern of State‑Backed Harassment and Digital Surveillance

The blocking of PridePakistan.org comes after years of:

• Arrests of gay men through digital entrapment
• FIA and NCCIA raids based on online activity
• Phone searches without consent
• FIRs filed under cybercrime and morality laws
• Torture and harassment of detainees
• Public humiliation in media reports
• Censorship of LGBTQIA+ content across platforms

Authorities claim that “Pakistan does not prosecute people for being gay.”
But the evidence — and the lived experience of thousands — tells a very different story.

PridePakistan’s Official Statement

On behalf of PridePakistan, we issue this clear and unwavering condemnation:

Blocking PridePakistan.org, targeting LGBTQIA+ websites, arresting gay community members, and censoring digital access are violations of fundamental human rights, freedom of expression, and the right to safety.

These actions:

• Endanger LGBTQIA+ lives
• Cut off access to mental health and legal support
• Force people into isolation
• Criminalise identity and existence
• Violate international human rights standards

We receive thousands of messages every year from LGBTQIA+ Pakistanis who are terrified, targeted, and desperate for help. Blocking our website does not stop the community from existing — it only makes them more vulnerable.

Why This Matters

When a state blocks:

• LGBTQIA+ websites
• Gay dating apps
• VPNs
• Proxies
• Social media links
• Community support platforms

…it is not “regulation.”
It is erasure.

It is an attempt to silence a community that already lives under threat, discrimination, and violence.

PridePakistan Will Continue to Stand With the Community

Despite censorship, intimidation, and state pressure, PridePakistan remains committed to:

• Providing support
• Sharing resources
• Documenting abuses
• Advocating for human rights
• Amplifying LGBTQIA+ voices

We will continue to operate globally, and we will continue to fight for the safety, dignity, and freedom of LGBTQIA+ Pakistanis.

The community deserves protection — not persecution.