Google Launches Digital Pasban to Help Pakistani Families Stay Safer Online
ISLAMABAD, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 20th Aug, 2026) To help Pakistani families navigate the digital world safely, Google Thursday unveiled Digital Pasban—a national initiative bringing practical online safety tools directly into homes across the country.
Announced at the Safe Raho with Google event, Digital Pasban is designed to empower parents and children as more families go online for learning, entertainment, and everyday tasks. The initiative aims to reach 200,000 households with localized urdu toolkits, instructional videos, and hands-on training.
This nationwide effort brings together key partners—including the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Tech Valley, Beaconhouse school System, and HUM Network—with the support from the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, the Ministry of Federal education and Professional Training, and the Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination.
Digital Pasban pairs online safety tools with digital literacy, focusing on four pillars:
- Family Link puts parents in control of the basics, from screen time and app approvals to content filters and device location, through a free parental control app.
- YouTube offers age-appropriate content settings and time management features like Take a Break and Bedtime reminders. Building on these controls, an industry-first feature now lets parents set the amount of time their children can spend on Shorts, including to zero, giving families the flexibility to pause short-form content entirely when kids and teens need to focus on studying or schoolwork.
- Be Internet Awesome turns digital citizenship into content kids aged 7 to 12 actually want to explore. Built around five core principles—sharing with care, avoiding scams, securing passwords, treating others with kindness, and reporting concerns—the program reinforces these habits through the interactive online game Interland.
- Gemini rounds out the framework by helping parents guide how their children use AI responsibly. Google’s assistant is introduced to families as a tool, not a companion or a person, with built-in guardrails for minors that restrict role play as harmful characters and block inappropriate content. In addition, Gemini’s Guided Learning feature acts as an AI tutoring mode, helping students grasp complex topics by asking targeted questions, breaking down problems step-by-step, and providing visual aids rather than simply handing over direct answers.
Digital Pasban brings online safety directly to local communities through broadcast media, SMS alerts, partner social campaigns, and school-based town halls. Central to this approach are parent and guardian safety clinics, where families can learn alongside their peers through interactive, hands-on workshops. Working side-by-side, parents can practice navigating real-world safety scenarios, building the digital literacy and …
