On Thursday, PTA responded to widespread complaints about slow internet services across the country, as reported by ARY News.
These concerns were brought to the forefront during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology, chaired by Palwasha Khan.
The committee members, including Senator Afnanullah Khan and Senator Humayun, voiced their frustration over the impact of slow internet on Pakistan’s e-commerce sector. They highlighted that several e-commerce platforms have already left Pakistan due to the low internet speeds, which are hindering business activities.
Senator Afnanullah specifically pointed out that users are facing significant difficulties in uploading or downloading media files on popular messaging platforms like WhatsApp.
Senator Humayun echoed these concerns, criticizing the PTA and IT ministry officials for what he described as a failure to maintain reliable internet services. “You people have ruined business activities,” he remarked, emphasizing the detrimental effect on the country’s digital economy.
In response to these criticisms, the Secretary of IT clarified that the internet service issues are primarily related to cellular networks and not WiFi services. Meanwhile, a PTA official stated that they had not received any formal complaints about slow internet speeds from the public, which further intensified the discussion.
It is worth noting that the PTA officials were expected to provide details about the installation of a firewall during the meeting. However, the agenda had to be postponed due to their unavailability.
This postponement left many questions unanswered, particularly regarding the government’s recent decision to implement a firewall across all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the country.
The installation of this firewall, which came shortly after the Punjab government enacted the Defamation Law 2024, has raised concerns about internet freedom in Pakistan.
According to sources from ARY News, the government has introduced this firewall to regulate social media and monitor internet traffic. The firewall is equipped with deep packet inspection (DPI) technology, allowing it to analyze data at a very detailed level, up to the seventh layer of the OSI model.
The move to install such a firewall has sparked debates about privacy and the potential impact on internet freedom. While the government argues that the firewall is necessary to maintain social order and security, critics warn that it could lead to increased censorship and control over online activities.
As the situation unfolds, the PTA and IT ministry are expected to address these concerns more comprehensively in the near future. Meanwhile, businesses and internet users across Pakistan continue to experience challenges due to the ongoing internet service disruptions.
