Public Anger Escalates in Pakistan Over Extensive Internet Outages

Islamabad, Dec 2 (NationPress) The public's frustration continues to escalate regarding the extremely sluggish internet speed and significant disruptions occurring throughout Pakistan. This situation arises as the administration led by Shehbaz Sharif has reportedly deployed firewalls to scrutinize anti-state content on social media, coinciding with anti-government protests spearheaded by the opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) that recently affected the capital Islamabad.

The ongoing slow internet and data connectivity issues have rendered it nearly impossible for users to share messages, images, videos, or voice notes via social media platforms. Additionally, professionals in IT, business sectors, digital marketing, content creation, remote work, and students engaged in online education have been profoundly impacted by the persistent internet outages.

The Federal Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecom, Shaza Fatima, has asserted that the situation is under control and that the concerns are being exaggerated.

She emphasized that her ministry is leaving no stone unturned to guarantee uninterrupted service across the nation.

“The government is dedicated to safeguarding the IT and telecom industry. To realize this objective, we are modernizing existing systems and concentrating on key areas, including enhancing tower intensity, expanding broadband internet access, and addressing critical cybersecurity issues to ensure improved coverage, stimulate economic growth, and maintain a secure online environment for citizens,” stated Fatima.

“Pakistan encounters millions of cyberattacks daily, making it increasingly challenging to identify terrorist activities. There is nothing controversial about a nation prioritizing its cybersecurity. Globally, different cybersecurity measures are employed,” she further explained.

Fatima urged all business operators, freelancers, and others to register their IPs for uninterrupted access to Virtual Private Network (VPN).

The administration has also expressed its desire to curb fake news, disinformation, misinformation, and incendiary propaganda circulating on various social media platforms aimed against Islamabad and the military.

On Sunday, the Prime Minister of Pakistan announced the establishment of a 10-member task force to focus on managing and addressing campaigns on social media targeting the security forces, the state, and the military.

The former PM Imran Khan's party, PTI, continues to leverage various social media platforms to express its discontent towards the government and the military.

The notification from the PM office stated, “Numerous domestic and foreign-based media platforms are being utilized to spread concocted, baseless, and inciting news implicating state apparatus in serious human rights violations. This campaign has negatively impacted the law-and-order situation in the country, and in an attempt to attract a foreign audience, the perpetrators have tried to fabricate serious human rights violations through fictitious violent images and content.”

The task force's objective is to identify organizations and individuals responsible for creating false news, trace and track them both domestically and internationally, and hold them accountable under the law.

However, many internet users remain unconvinced by the government’s assurances.

“I am perplexed by the government’s reasoning and why it seems oblivious to the reality that installing firewalls and additional internet security measures is causing significant harm to individuals across all sectors,” expressed Khurram Ali, an IT professional based in Karachi.

“From IT firms collaborating with international clients to delivery personnel on the streets, everyone is struggling to manage their tasks and communication. Businesses are losing clients due to these internet interruptions,” he stated.

Experts in IT assert that the inconsistency of internet connections is damaging the country’s economy, with sectors like IT and telecom, which generate billions in daily profits, being directly impacted.

“Current internet outages, along with weak or nonexistent 3G and 4G network coverage, are delivering a substantial blow to the telecom sector,” according to a report from IT analysts.