Pakistan

Internet, VPN services still disrupted in Pakistan

Published by

Digital Desk

2 years ago

ISLAMABAD: Recently, reports emerged that the internet speed in Pakistan has started to improve gradually, weeks after a significant slowdown.

However, millions across Pakistan are still facing intermittent internet disruptions which have affected businesses, freelancers, and communication at large.

Earlier, the federal government, while denying allegations that it was responsible for internet slowdown, attributed the issue to excessive VPN usage rather than acknowledging any infrastructural problems.

Downdetector, an internet outage monitoring website, shared that the user reported problems accessing PTCL, the internet service provider, services across the country.

Downdetector also showed a sharp spike in reported outages of WhatsApp service on Tuesday.

During the hearing regarding the internet outage today, Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq called for relevant officials to address the recent slowdown in internet speeds across the country.

During a hearing on a petition challenging the reduced internet speeds and the installation of a firewall, Justice Farooq questioned the petitioner’s lawyer, Imaan Mazari, about the reasons behind the slowdown.

“Before making any decisions, we need clarity on what is happening,” Justice Farooq said. “Which ministry is accountable for this issue? Should we involve the PTA or the Ministry of Information Technology?”

In addition, Mazari responded that the PTA has not provided any information on the matter. The Chief Justice then asked whether the Secretary or Joint Secretary should be summoned and directed that high-ranking officials from the relevant ministries be called to provide answers.

Following the intermittent internet disruptions, the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) has decried the government’s unforthcoming attitude and lack of consultation on the issue.

“We want to work with them [government]. What such need arose that we have been thrown out of the loop,” P@SHA Senior Vice Chairman Ali Ihsan said to a private TV channel on Monday.

Digital Desk