Pakistan is set to lift its ban on video streaming service YouTube after three-and-a-half years. The Ministry of Information Technology issued a directive to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority on Monday to restore the service within 48 hours, Dawn reported.

YouTube was blocked in Pakistan on September 18, 2012, following countrywide violent protests against a blasphemous film uploaded on its servers. Google has now provided an online process through which the PTA can request the company to block content considered offending.

The Pakistan Supreme Court was informed last Tuesday that a localised domain of the website had been launched. PTA officials said that all blasphemous content had been blocked on this version, which will be made available.