• October 10, 2024
• Access to Information

Internet users in Pakistan continue to experience widespread disruptions and slow internet speeds, even as the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has reassured the public that these issues will be resolved by the end of October. The PTA attributes these disruptions primarily to issues with undersea cables, but some areas also face deliberate internet shutdowns during […]

• October 8, 2024
• Access to Information

After a prolonged 51-hour blackout, mobile and internet services were restored in Islamabad and Rawalpindi on October 6. This suspension, which had significantly impacted residents and businesses, resulted from heightened government security measures to curb potential unrest during political protests. The shutdown, coinciding with demonstrations led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters, caused widespread communication disruptions, […]

• September 10, 2024
• Access to Information

The Ministry of Interior has refused to explain the February 8 mobile and internet service shutdown during the general elections, citing concerns over national security. A formal request was made to the Pakistan Information Commission seeking details on the government’s reasoning for the communication blackout. In response, the Ministry of Interior classified the information under the Right […]

• September 10, 2024
• Access to Information, General News, Information Technology

Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Faisal Zaman has recused himself from hearing a petition challenging the installation of web management system and installation of a firewall by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). The case, filed by the Judicial Activism Panel, seeks to halt the implementation of the firewall, which is intended to block access to […]

• September 7, 2024
• Access to Information

On September 5, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) assured Information Technology exporters that internet access will remain secure and stable despite ongoing disruptions due to submarine cable damage. On September 5, at PTA headquarters, PTA officials met with a Pakistan IT Association (P@SHA) delegation to discuss measures to ease the impact of the internet slowdown on IT exporters. PTA […]

• August 27, 2024
• Access to Information

On August 26, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) summoned the Ministry of Information Technology to provide a comprehensive technical report addressing the persistent internet slowdown affecting users across Pakistan. The court, presided over by Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, also mandated that a technical representative from the Ministry be present at the next hearing, scheduled for […]

• August 21, 2024
• Access to Information

Freelancers across Pakistan urge the government to address persistent internet disruptions that have affected their work over the past three weeks. Tufail Ahmed Khan, President and CEO of the Pakistan Freelancers Association (PAFLA), highlighted the severe impact of these connectivity issues on the freelance sector. Khan reported that slow internet speeds and frequent outages have hindered freelancers’ […]

• August 21, 2024
• Access to Information

On August 20, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued a call for responses from both the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) concerning a petition filed by senior journalist Hamid Mir. Mir had filed a petition on August 16, through his lawyer, Advocate Imaan Mazari, citing violations of fundamental rights due to […]

• August 20, 2024
• Access to Information

Amid growing concerns over recent internet disruptions nationwide, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, has denied allegations that the government is intentionally slowing down or restricting internet access. The minister attributed the slowdown to increased usage of virtual private networks (VPNs) by users attempting to bypass local networks, which she said […]

• August 18, 2024
• Access to Information, Information Technology

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) is alarmed by the unexplained disruptions in internet access in Pakistan with internet speeds being impacted. The lack of clarity about the disruption in internet services amidst reports of the government testing a firewall have made evident the lack of clarity, accountability, and transparency in the management and regulation of digital […]

• August 1, 2024
• Access to Information, Social Media

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is prepared to lift the ban on the social media platform X, pending government approval. PTA Chairman Hafeezur Rehman stated that technical preparations for lifting the ban are complete, and the authority is awaiting a directive from the federal government to proceed. The platform X, formerly known as Twitter, was banned in Pakistan since […]

• June 20, 2024
• Access to Information, social media, Social Media

On June 14, a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson criticized the government for what the party described as an “unconstitutional, illegal, and dictatorial” installation of a firewall that the party stated was intended to suppress fundamental rights to freedom of expression and access to information. It was reported that to regulate online content, the Government of […]

• April 27, 2024
• Access to Information, Social Media

In recent days, the stability of Pakistan’s internet infrastructure has come under increased scrutiny following a series of disruptions and a submarine cable cut. The Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) on April 27 denied any disruption in its internet traffic after reports emerged that the underwater fiber-optic cable, South East Asia–Middle East–Western Europe 5 (SEA-ME-WE […]

• April 24, 2024
• Access to Information

On April 23, mobile phone services were partially suspended in Karachi, Sindh due to enhanced security measures in place for the visit of Iranian President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) confirmed the service outages in specific areas of the city. The PTA released a statement citing directives from the Ministry of Interior, outlining the suspension of cellular […]