‘The Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) unequivocally condemns the grave consequences of the hastily implemented national firewall. The booming IT industry is facing a disaster, grappling with unprecedented operational disruptions that threaten the very foundation of… pic.twitter.com/PpnFwPKKJD
— PTI (@PTIofficial) August 16, 2024
Pakistan’s internet slowdown in recent months has drawn criticism from businesses and activists who argue that it puts the country’s economic recovery at risk and stifles free speech. Since July, internet networks have been up to 40 percent slower than normal, according to IT associations, with significant disruptions to WhatsApp, used by tens of millions in Pakistan. Digital rights activists suspect the state is testing a firewall to increase surveillance and censor political dissent, particularly criticism of the security establishment’s interference in politics.
The destruction of yet another industry under the vision of form 47 government and its handlers…
"The government’s inexplicable opacity and ambiguity surrounding the firewall’s design and objectives have ignited a firestorm of distrust among global clients of Pakistan. They… pic.twitter.com/0cRLSLBonh
— PTI (@PTIofficial) August 16, 2024
Usama Khilji, a digital rights activist, said, “The internet slowdown is due to the installation of a national firewall and content filtering system.”
The government and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority have largely remained silent on the issue.
Pakistan's internet firewall could cost economy $300 mln @PASHAORG says
Pakistan has already blocked access to X (formerly Twitter) since the Feb elections in which jailed former PM Imran Khan won the most seats despite a crackdown & ban on his partyhttps://t.co/NJNzg8ndgF
— Ariba Shahid (@AribaShahid) August 16, 2024
However, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif recently acknowledged the situation, indicating a transitional phase with forthcoming controls to prevent threatening and defamatory content. IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja attributed the slowdown to increased use of VPNs, creating pressure on live internet services.
Internet slowdown draws critical backlash
Meanwhile, the military claims it is combating “digital terrorism.”
Pakistan’s internet service providers have alleged that “the government’s heightened efforts to monitor internet traffic had resulted in a significant nationwide slowdown of services.” https://t.co/mdwptMx1gu
— Madiha Afzal (@MadihaAfzal) August 15, 2024
Analysts suggest the main target of the digital disruptions is the party of jailed opposition leader Imran Khan, supported by a young, tech-savvy voter base. Prominent journalist Hamid Mir has filed a legal challenge against the government over the alleged firewall installation, with a hearing expected soon.
Economic experts warn that the slowdown could severely impact foreign investment. The Pakistan Software Houses Association predicts the IT sector could lose up to $300 million due to the firewall’s “inexplicable opacity and ambiguity.”
Shahzad Arshad, head of the Wireless & Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan, cautioned that continued internet disruptions could lead to a mass exodus of businesses from the country. Despite this, Punjab province recently placed advertisements in New York’s Times Square, marketing itself as an “IT city.” Ehsan Malik, CEO of the Pakistan Business Council, emphasized the need for trials, suggesting that they could have preserved the livelihoods of freelance software developers and maintained Pakistan’s credibility in IT services.
Activists argue that the government’s censorship and control over the internet and media are shrinking the already limited space for free speech. Shahzad Ahmad, head of the independent digital rights watchdog Bytes for All in Pakistan, warned that the firewall would deter IT investors and compromise citizens’ fundamental rights.
