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Internet users in Pakistan are increasingly irritated with the persistent issue of slow and unreliable connectivity. While the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) promised services by October, the reality is far from it. Users are still wrestling with slow internet speeds and inconsistent outages. PTA Chairman Major General (retd) Hafeezur Rahman previously cited an undersea cable fault as the cause of service delay, with an anticipated repair in early October. But the deadline has passed without improvement.
A Growing Crisis Since February
This isn’t a new issue for Pakistani citizens. Internet connection problems have been a consistent concern since February, and government’s tendency to halt services in areas witnessing political unrest has only worsened the circumstances. In recent times, the situation has intensified, making it difficult for many to access vital services and digital modes of communication.
PTA has refuted allegations of wilfully slowing down internet services, maintaining that national security reasons were behind selective internet shutdowns. During events like Muharram, authorities have enforced temporary service halts for public safety. However, users are contesting that such steps are being overly used to curtail political dissent.
Concerns from Digital Rights Advocates
Digital rights supporters are upfront about shutdown implications. Haroon Baloch, a renowned advocate, criticized the government for nontransparent digital governance methods. He accused officials of manipulating security and web management upgrades to intensify surveillance and censorship. “Government’s nonaccountability is immensely frustrating,” said Baloch.
The restriction on social media platform X (previously known as Twitter) is another point of concern. Activist Fareiha Aziz noted that although the public can’t access the platform, government officials continue to use it. There are pending court cases challenging X’s shutdown, but they’re making slow strides.
With October passing and no clear resolution in sight, Pakistan’s internet users are left grappling with the reality of unreliable connectivity, caught between promises of improvement and an ongoing digital crackdown.
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