The Federal Minister of State for Information Technology, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, explained that the recent slowdown in internet speed across Pakistan is mainly due to the widespread use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).
During a press conference in Islamabad, she addressed concerns from the public, clarifying that the government has not blocked or deliberately slowed down the internet.
Instead, she pointed out that the increased use of VPNs, which are tools that allow users to bypass local internet services, has led to a reduction in overall internet speed. She also mentioned that the heavy use of VPNs is affecting the performance of mobile internet as well.
Fatima Khawaja assured the public that the government is aware of the issue and is working on solutions to improve internet services across the country. She emphasized that efforts are being made to address the slowdown and enhance the quality of internet connectivity for everyone.
In addition to discussing the internet speed issue, the Minister of State announced the creation of a Digitization Commission. This new initiative is aimed at promoting the digitization of Pakistan’s economy, making it more modern and efficient.
She highlighted that the country’s IT exports have been growing, largely due to the efforts of the Special Investment Facilitation Council, which has been implementing various initiatives to support the IT sector.
Addressing rumors that the government might be intentionally restricting or slowing down the internet, Fatima Khawaja firmly denied these claims.
She explained that the slowdown is simply a result of the increased load on internet traffic, especially due to the widespread use of VPNs, and reassured the public that the government is taking steps to resolve the issue and ensure better internet services in the future.
