70% of Pakistan’s Food Industry hit hard by Slow Internet

Local media has attributed the internet slowdown to the government‘s implementation of a national firewall aimed at monitoring social media platforms and regulating the content posted there.

However, the government denies using the firewall for censorship and instead blames the slow internet speeds on issues with the submarine cable network.

Ikhlaq Ahmed, Director of Connect Communications, an internet and data service provider, complained about the lack of communication from the government on this issue and mentioned that their customers are “worried” about the state of their internet connectivity.

Last week, the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) issued a statement warning that the installation of the national firewall could lead to connectivity issues that might cost Pakistan’s economy up to $300 million.

The director of Bolo Bhi, a digital rights watchdog based in Islamabad, highlighted the lack of transparency in the operations of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and urged the government to “immediately withdraw” the alleged installation of the national firewall, which they claim violates the right to freedom of expression and privacy.

Since the elections in February this year, Pakistan has already blocked access to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). Leaders of the opposition party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, allege that access to X was blocked because evidence of election rigging by the ruling parties was being shared on the platform.

The government’s stance is that the purpose of blocking X is to prevent anti-state activities, and X’s failure to comply with local Pakistani laws is also a reason for its shutdown. Human rights activists argue that the blocking of X is intended to silence critical voices in the country.

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