The Government Finally Confesses It Is Fiddling With The Internet
The IT minister updates the ‘web management system’ for better cyber security.
- The Senate committee considers challenges for online enterprises, including potential losses in IT exports.
Software companies and business organizations call for normalized internet speeds.
ISLAMABAD/ KARACHI: After months of speculation about the installation of a so-called ‘firewall’ that could cause internet outages, the country’s IT minister announced on Thursday that the government was modernizing its ‘web management system’ to combat cyber security risks.
Despite the somewhat ambiguous terminology used by Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja, this was the first time an official acknowledged the government’s actions, which have been blamed for everything from slow browsing speeds to arbitrary blocking of social media platforms and WhatsApp connectivity issues on mobile data.
So far, official parties — Ms Khawaja’s ministry and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) — have either denied knowledge in response to public outcry and media inquiries or claimed that the issues were caused by telecom and internet service companies, or even Meta.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, users continued to face difficulties accessing social media sites, including WhatsApp.
Downdetector, a service that gives real-time information about internet outages, got an unusually high number of reports regarding disruptions in WhatsApp, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram between 12 and 1 p.m.
During the day, ISPs such as PTCL, Zong, and Nayatel experienced service disruptions.
‘Web Management System’
Ms Fatima told reporters following the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunications meeting that the government has requested a report from the PTA and other institutions regarding the internet disruption.
“Internet speeds should never be slow. We have even discussed bringing 5G technology to Pakistan. There is no doubt about it, and discussions regarding increased internet speed are ongoing.”
When asked about the ‘firewall’ — a blanket term used by the public to characterize the causes of internet disruption in the lack of an official explanation — the minister stated that the matter had been “blown out of proportion”.
“The government has been using a website management system. “The system is currently being improved.
She also referred to the process as “a routine exercise” to improve internet security around the world, but provided no information to back up her statements regarding which other countries have implemented this approach.
“It is the right of the government to take measures to protect its interests given the cyber security attacks that Pakistan is facing.”
Senate Body Meeting
Earlier, during the Senate committee meeting, MPs noted internet outages and claimed they were generating significant challenges for online firms.
Senator Afnanullah Khan of the PML-N claimed that the country was already suffering a massive economic crisis, and that if the internet issue was not fixed, IT sector exports could plummet considerably.
Aisha Humera Chaudhry, secretary of the Ministry of IT and Telecommunications, informed the gathering that while broadband connections were fine, mobile data users were experiencing difficulties.
Officials from the PTA informed the committee that the telecom regulator was “assessing the issue” and that the ministry would be in a better position to provide an overview in two weeks once the study was concluded.
However, when Dawn contacted PTA, its spokeswoman maintained full ignorance of the connectivity troubles experienced by consumers on Thursday.
Despite government denials, customers continued to experience agonizingly sluggish internet speeds and even business closures.
“In the past, there was simply YouTube and Facebook. “Now WhatsApp is the latest casualty,” said a serving military forces officer, who stated they couldn’t share or receive papers before a critical meeting.
Dr. Amir Abbasi, a professor at Islamabad’s Quaid-i-Azam University, stated that his students’ work has also been affected.
“Over the past two weeks, students have struggled to meet project deadlines,” he said, adding that this has generated concerns among academic institutions.
“After years of [efforts] to build relationships with international organisations, missing deadlines damages our reputation.”
Concerning the activities required to solve the issue, Prof Abbasi stated that creating committees was no longer sufficient. “There is an obvious gap between policymakers and the public. If Pakistan wants to grow, the government must acknowledge the serious impact of these disruptions, particularly on students, and forsake archaic techniques such as building firewalls.
More bodies decry disruptions
According to Reuters, the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) issued a press release on Thursday stating that internet interruptions might cost the economy up to $300 million.
The remark came a day after the Wireless and Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan warned that firms were considering migrating to other countries as internet speeds have dropped by 30 to 40 percent in recent weeks.
P@SHA stated that the government’s lack of transparency on the firewall has “ignited a firestorm of distrust” among internet users and Pakistan’s worldwide IT clients, who are concerned that their sensitive data and privacy may be jeopardized.
According to Ali Ihsan, senior vice chairman of P@SHA, the implementation of the firewall has already resulted in protracted internet disconnections and irregular VPN functioning, causing a “complete meltdown of business operations”.
“These disruptions are not mere inconveniences; but, a direct, tangible and aggressive assault on the industry’s viability inflicting an estimated and devastating financial losses estimated to reach $300 million, which can further increase exponentially,” the statement continued.
The group of software companies requested a “immediate and unconditional halt to this digital siege” and urged the government to collaborate with the business to create a cybersecurity framework.
In a separate statement, the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) stated that regular internet outages would hinder innovation and significantly reduce the prospects for much-needed foreign direct investment, which is critical for economic recovery.
According to OICCI Secretary General and CEO M. Abdul Aleem, internet outages have disproportionately harmed freelancers, who contribute “over one billion dollars in revenue for Pakistan’s economy each year”.
Iftikhar Ahmed Sheikh, President of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), stated that his organization has received numerous complaints from its members who have been having difficulty communicating with their clients for the past week due to disruptions in the services of social media platforms, particularly WhatsApp.
“In the era of digitalisation, Pakistan cannot afford such delays in restoring internet connectivity which must be restored at the earliest,” stressed the head of KCCI.
Aamir Shafaat Khan also contributed to the report.
