Everyone living in Pakistan is already aware of the recent internet slowdown. Whether you need to share memes or do online business, the internet crisis in Pakistan must have disrupted your daily activities. All over Pakistan, people are facing a similar issue and have one question on their minds: why did this start happening suddenly?
In this article, we have explored the possible reasons behind this internet slowdown in Pakistan and what this might mean for the country’s digital future.
Challenges of Slow Internet in Pakistan
In the past few days, Pakistanis have been facing slow internet issues, and it happened several times the internet was not working at all; people were even unable to use messaging apps like WhatsApp. Online business owners reported huge losses because of internet disruption, especially freelancers and people working in marketing departments that have to run ads to generate sales.
However, the biggest concern was that the cause of this disruption and slow internet was unknown. It was not clarified why this was happening or any clear statement from the state. People have been facing week-long disruptions, but the issue has not been resolved yet.
The Economic Impact of Internet Slowdown
The slow internet issue has not only been affecting individuals but the overall economy of the country. Considering the number of freelancers working in Pakistan and online businesses, the internet slowdown affected the overall economy. Multiple freelancers shared that they were unable to use any freelancing website like Fiverr or Upwork, which means they could not approach new clients or even contact their existing clients.
DataReportal.com issued a report stating that currently out of 240 million Pakistanis, 111 million Pakistanis use the internet, and the BOP put the country’s exports at $3.2 billion in the financial year. Considering the huge number of people in Pakistan using the internet, the internet crisis affects not only the individuals but the overall economy of Pakistan too. Reports from ISPs stated that a lot of people are facing slow internet issues that have led to people shifting from smaller ISPs for better quality internet service. If it continues, it can lead to a negative impact on the digital economy of the country.
Cryptic Statements About Internet Issues in Pakistan
Last month, the spokesperson’s office of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) told VOA that the slow internet issue in Pakistan was just a technical glitch. However, recently the secretary for the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication told a Senate committee that they have been digging into the data of mobile operations to gather data.
A lot of questions have been raised about the government not giving a clear statement of this situation. People are claiming that even if the government is doing something to improve web security, they should also consider how it is impacting the digital economy of the country.
Rumors about Firewall in Pakistan’s Internet Crisis
The constant internet problem and cryptic statements from the governments have fueled the speculation that Pakistan’s government is maybe considering deploying a firewall to enhance the country’s surveillance and control of the country’s internet. However, the authorities stated that they are working to upgrade the systems, but there is no involvement of surveillance technology.
They also claimed that the reason Pakistan is facing this massive slowdown is because of the large number of people in Pakistan using virtual private networks, or VPNs. However, multiple digital researchers and analysts have stated that according to their findings, the authorities are involved in controlling Pakistan’s digital space.
The problem is that Pakistan’s democracy is already fragile, and if the country deploys a firewall-like system, it can curtail free speech and civil liberties. While the government claimed that they are just blocking certain websites, analysts believe there is something more big happening that has led to an internet slowdown in Pakistan. This new technology is expected to block access to certain parts of the internet which could include social media, websites, and messenger platforms.
It was also reported that this firewall can give Pakistani authorities all the information about an individual user’s online activities. It means there will be a huge possibility of targeted monitoring. Additionally, efforts have been made to deploy firewalls on servers of major international companies where they store their data; it will give authorities access to their data and also control over their online activities.
Public Response to Internet Control Rumors
The citizens of Pakistan are already frustrated about the disruption in their daily lives because of slow internet, and now the rumors of firewalls have frustrated them more. Similarly, digital rights activists rejected the government’s claim about firewalls being a cybersecurity tool, with some even claiming that it is more about political control.
However, the authorities have denied all these rumors, stating that they are working on the Internet Crisis in Pakistan and it will be resolved soon. They have ensured that they will never allow this to happen; the internet slowdown is just a short-term problem that will be resolved.
Summing It Up!
As Pakistan struggles with ongoing internet issues, it’s clear that reliable online access is more important than ever. People need the internet not just for work but for staying connected in their daily lives. The hope now is that these problems will be fixed soon, allowing everyone to get back to normal. Until then, all eyes are on finding solutions that can keep Pakistan moving forward in the digital age.