ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s government is reportedly throttling the internet and social media while implementing new controls aimed at suppressing dissent, according to activists and business leaders, a move that may jeopardize the country’s economic recovery.
Since July, internet speeds have slowed by up to 40 percent, according to an IT association, with disruptions affecting documents, images, and voice notes on WhatsApp, a platform used by millions in Pakistan.
Digital rights experts suspect the state is testing a ‘firewall’—a security system that can both monitor network traffic and control online spaces. Usama Khilji, a digital rights activist, told AFP that the slowdown is likely due to the installation of this national firewall and content filtering system, which aims to enhance surveillance and censor political dissent, particularly criticism of the security establishment’s involvement in politics.
Authorities seem to be targeting WhatsApp due to its end-to-end encryption, which secures user information from third-party access. Despite requests for comment, the government and the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority have remained silent on the issue.
Economic Impact
These disruptions come as Pakistan’s military, the country’s dominant institution, claims to be combating “digital terrorism.” Regular protests have occurred this year demanding increased action against militant violence near the Afghan border, while rallies in Balochistan have addressed alleged rights abuses by the authorities against separatist groups.
Analysts suggest that the primary target of the digital disruptions is the party of jailed opposition leader Imran Khan, who remains highly popular and supported by a tech-savvy young voter base. Prominent journalist Hamid Mir has filed a legal challenge against the government over the “apparent installation of a firewall,” with the Islamabad High Court scheduled to hear the case on Monday.
The Pakistan Software Houses Association estimates that the firewall could cost the IT sector up to $300 million and damage Pakistan’s economic potential. Shahzad Arshad, head of the Wireless & Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan, warned of a potential mass exodus of businesses if the situation continues, noting that connectivity has decreased by up to 40 percent over the past month.
Despite these issues, Punjab province recently invested in advertising in New York’s Times Square to promote itself as an “IT city.”
Ehsan Malik, CEO of the Pakistan Business Council, stated, “Even if a firewall is necessary for security, trials could have protected thousands of freelance software developers’ livelihoods and maintained Pakistan’s reputation as a reliable IT service provider.”
Fundamental Rights
Activists have long criticized the government’s censorship and control over the internet and media, which further limits free speech in the conservative country. The social media platform X has been banned since the election due to its use in airing allegations of poll rigging against Khan’s party, and the party’s social media team has faced arrests and detentions.
Shahzad Ahmad, head of the independent digital rights watchdog Bytes for All, warned that the firewall could erode trust among IT investors and compromise citizens’ fundamental rights, stating, “We believe the firewall will create distrust among IT investors in Pakistan and undermine fundamental rights.”
