Internet speeds are down by 30 to 40 percent across Pakistan as the government attempts to regulate internet services through the imposition of a nationwide firewall.
The initiative is being led by the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) and is said to be in the final stages. As per the plan, internet platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Skype, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Netflix and YouTube, will be affected by the firewall.
Guided by laws such as the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, the PEMRA Ordinance 2002, and the PTA Act 1996, the regulatory framework will also be applicable to social media channels operating within the country.
The aforementioned platforms are supposed to register with the government within 12 months once the regulatory framework is approved by the government. Currently, the PTA is said to be in talks with these stakeholders. So, while the talks are ongoing, the federal government’s approval is still pending.
While there was little word from the government regarding this previously, Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja spoke about it in detail in July this year.
Speaking to the Voice of America, she said that while the government was indeed installing a national firewall, it was not aimed at curbing free speech in the country. She explained that it was a cybersecurity upgrade to the country’s network, citing the increase in cyberattacks against the country.
So, while the authorities are attempting to regulate internet services, there has been a disruption in internet services, which citizens have witnessed inconsistently over the course of the past few months. This disruption in internet services has raised concerns regarding the future of internet services in the country, considering that a number of businesses now operate online.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused many businesses to go online, thus boosting the digitalization of various sectors of the global economy. Similar patterns were witnessed in Pakistan. The pandemic-induced lockdown and the economic slowdown also led to the rise of freelancers, who capitalized on their skills and started selling their services to foreign clients.
Similarly, the past few years saw many IT professionals turning to working remotely for foreign companies. Others started their own businesses, catering to foreign clients. This sector thus became a promising sector in terms of earning valuable foreign exchange for the country.