• August 16, 2024
• Social Media
• Web Desk

The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology has directed the authorities to urgently resolve the ongoing internet slowdown and social media disruptions that have been affecting the country. The committee has set a two-week deadline for these issues to be addressed and has requested a detailed report on the financial losses resulting from the disruptions.

During the meeting held on August 15, which was chaired by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Palwasha Khan, committee members expressed grave concerns about the impact of the internet issues on businesses and daily activities across Pakistan. Representatives from the Ministry of IT and the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) were present to respond to the committee’s queries.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Afnan Ullah Khan highlighted the significant economic toll caused by the internet slowdown, revealing that businesses, particularly in the e-commerce sector, have suffered losses amounting to at least Rs500 million. He warned that these ongoing disruptions were forcing many e-commerce platforms to consider relocating their operations outside Pakistan. “The slowdown has severely impacted communications, especially on platforms like WhatsApp, which is crucial for both personal and business interactions,” Senator Khan emphasized.

Senator Mohammad Humayun Mohmand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) added that the internet disruptions were jeopardizing jobs and deterring investment in the country. He cautioned that if the issues were not resolved promptly, they could lead to the collapse of key business sectors. “This approach will destroy the entire business sector without proper investment and reliable infrastructure,” he remarked.

In response to the concerns, IT Ministry Secretary Aisha Humera Chaudhry attributed the disruptions primarily to technical issues affecting mobile networks, rather than Wi-Fi services. She assured the committee that the problem would be resolved soon. However, a PTA official stated that no formal complaints about internet service disruptions had been received, raising further questions about the communication between the public and the regulatory authorities.

For months, there had been speculation about the installation of a ‘firewall’ system designed to filter and block unwanted content from reaching the public. These suspicions were finally confirmed in a meeting when Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, acknowledged that the government was upgrading its web management system as part of efforts to enhance cybersecurity.

Minister Khawaja described the web management system upgrade as a “routine exercise” that is necessary to protect the country from cyber threats. However, she dismissed concerns that the system was solely responsible for the recent internet issues, claiming that the situation had been “blown out of proportion.” She did not provide specific details about the countries where similar systems have been deployed, further fueling public skepticism.

Despite official reassurances, the disruptions have had widespread effects, with users across Pakistan reporting difficulties in accessing social media platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, particularly on mobile data networks. The Wireless and Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan (WISPAP) has attributed these issues to increased security and surveillance measures associated with the web management system. WISPAP warned that these measures could have severe economic repercussions, citing a 30% to 40% reduction in internet speeds, which has caused significant disruptions for businesses and individuals reliant on stable internet connectivity.

The committee had also planned to discuss the specifics of the national firewall, but this was postponed due to the absence of key PTA officials who were supposed to provide an in-camera briefing on the matter.