Pakistan’s internet service providers (ISPs) on Wednesday alleged that the government’s attempts to increase surveillance of internet traffic were to blame for a noticeable slowdown of services nationwide.
In a statement, the Wireless and Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan (WISPAP) said the government’s intent to enhance security and surveillance had triggered an unintended consequence that was hampering the country’s digital economy. “Over the past few weeks, internet speeds have plummeted by 30 to 40 percent, creating a chaotic situation for businesses and individuals who rely heavily on fast, reliable connectivity,” it said.
Emphasizing that the impact had worst-hit call centers, e-commerce professionals, online freelancers and individuals managing electronic-related businesses, it said these represented the “backbone” of Pakistan’s burgeoning digital economy. Warning that the slowdown was “threatening their very survival,” it said the situation was encouraging many businesses to relocate their operations to countries with more stable internet services.
“It’s a very discouraging situation for our customers,” said WISPAP Chairman Shahzad Arshad. “Many are leaving the smaller ISPs because they cannot sustain the poor service quality anymore. If this continues, we will see a mass exodus of businesses from Pakistan,” he warned.
While previous bans and restrictions have been sidestepped through VPNs, the current strategy aims to also block their usage, worsening the issue, especially for international businesses and freelancers who require secure, uninterrupted internet access for their work. The most impacted platforms under the current scenario have been Meta services, including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, as users report an inability to share media or even access their messages.
Prevailing consensus holds this sustained slowdown is linked to the government’s much-rumored attempts to implement a national firewall. However, both the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and the I.T. Ministry have refused to offer any conclusive statement verifying or denying this.