August 19, 2024
By Rana Malhi
ISLAMABAD:
The government has neither reduced the speed of the internet, nor shut it down, said Shaza Fatima, the Minister of State for Information Technology, instead blaming the slow speed of the internet on the use of VPNs. Yet the crippling economy of the digital sector shows that something has suddenly and seriously affected the internet since the past few weeks.
Of late, the lag in internet speed across Pakistan, including urban centers, has resulted in a serious challenge in communication, along with other social media platforms, while those using the internet for work, and the business community at large have made serious complaints regarding the impact they have faced because of this.
According to Shaza Fatima the excessive use of VPNs to access the internet, was putting a load on the servers, resulting in slower speed. She said that the government did not intend on shutting down or slowing down the internet, but in fact was considering implementation of 5G.
But senior journalist Matiullah Jan is not convinced.
Jan remarked that the unsaid ‘ban’ on the internet was not unfamiliar. “Much like the government using containers to block and seal off certain areas, it is now also blocking the internet – repeatedly. This internet shutdown by the government will significantly harm the country’s economy. They (government) talk about democracy, but when in power, their actions resemble those of a dictatorship.”
Digital rights activist Farieha Aziz said that people would have to resort to using VPNs when restrictions were imposed on platforms. At the same time, WhatsApp (Meta) developers have clarified that there was no issue in the application itself.
And yet some businesses have had to shut down as a result of the internet challenges alone.
All those connected to the internet have urged the government to resolve this issue swiftly in order to prevent further damage to users and businesses relying on the internet.
Internet speed has fallen 30 to 40 percent, as per the alliance of internet service providers.
DIGITAL RIGHTS
In January 2024, there were around 111 million internet users in Pakistan and the internet penetration rate stood at 45.7 percent of the total population at the start of 2024. It k I’has been estimated that internet users in Pakistan have possibly increased by 24 million (27.1 percent) between January 2023 and January 2024. Pakistan has nearly 189 million active cellular connections and the country’s IT exports, according to the State Bank of Pakistan are estimated at $3.2 billion in the financial year that ended in July 2024.
In Pakistan, activists have been fighting for smooth internet flow, highlighting that access to internet was their digital right and that the slow down was intentional and revolved around political control.
Human rights activists have urged authorities in Pakistan guarantee uninterrupted access to the internet and digital communication platforms for all citizens across the country. Access to the internet and social media platforms allows citizens to participate in democratic processes, engage in informed discourse, and exercise their fundamental rights.
Earlier this earlier, during the General Elections, also, Amnesty International had also emphasised that any disruptions to internet access during the polls would not only undermine the democratic process but also impede the ability of citizens to access crucial information and express their viewpoints freely. However the platform X (Twitter) was blocked in February and continues to be blocked, accessible only via VPN, while since a few weeks it is the internet being slowed down now.