Google launched Digital Pasban in Pakistan on Thursday, backing the initiative with a $500,000 commitment through Google.org. The plan aims to reach 200,000 households across the country with free, Urdu-language digital safety tools, training videos, and parent workshops. The launch came just two days after Google opened its first office in Pakistan, in Karachi.
What Is Digital Pasban
Google unveiled Digital Pasban at a launch event called Safe Raho with Google. The programme brings together several partners, including the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Tech Valley, Beaconhouse School System, JazzWorld, and HUM Network, with backing from three federal ministries.
The Four Safety Tools Included
Digital Pasban rests on four tools already built into Google products:
- Family Link lets parents manage screen time, approve apps, filter content, and check a child’s device location, all from one free app.
- YouTube now lets parents set a daily limit on Shorts, down to zero if needed, on top of existing tools like Take a Break and Bedtime reminders.
- Be Internet Awesome teaches online safety to children aged 7 to 12 through five simple rules, taught through an interactive game called Interland.
- Gemini is introduced to families as a tool, not a companion, with built-in limits for minors that block harmful roleplay and restrict inappropriate content. Its Guided Learning mode also works as a study helper, walking students through problems step by step instead of just giving the answer.
Beyond these four tools, the programme runs safety clinics for parents and guardians, along with SMS alerts, school town halls, and awareness campaigns through partner organisations.
Why PTA Says This Matters
PTA Chairman Hafeezur Rehman said the initiative reflects a shared commitment to “a safer digital environment for Pakistan’s children and families.” He also shared a number that puts the scale of the problem in view: PTA receives around 500 complaints a day about inappropriate content and harmful activity aimed at children.
Wilson White, Google’s vice president for public policy, said parents need real support to keep up with online risks that are often hard to see. “We need to move from digital anxiety to digital confidence,” he said at the launch.
Part of a Bigger Push in Pakistan
Digital Pasban lands during a busy week for Google in Pakistan. On Tuesday, the company opened its first Pakistan office in Karachi, nearly four years after first registering in the country. On the same day as the Digital Pasban launch, Google and PTA also signed a separate agreement focused on child online safety, covering awareness content, teacher training, and a nationwide outreach campaign.
The new programme builds on Google’s earlier Digital Safar initiative, which has already trained over 300,000 students and 5,000 teachers in online safety. Google has also partnered with Punjab’s Ministry of Education, bringing its tools to 1.5 million students in the province.
