ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani government has attributed the recent nationwide internet slowdown to a faulty submarine cable, countering allegations that it had implemented a firewall responsible for the disruption. The explanation came as lawmakers criticized declining internet speeds during a National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication session.
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Hafeezur Rehman, addressing the committee, stated that the slowdown was due to a damaged submarine cable, expected to be repaired by August 27. He dismissed concerns about a firewall installation, asserting that the government was only upgrading its “web management system.”
Recent weeks have seen significant drops in internet speeds, affecting media uploads, downloads, and communication on platforms like WhatsApp. The business community and internet service providers (ISPs) have accused the government of intentionally throttling digital services, leading to economic losses.
The controversy deepened when Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja initially confirmed an upgrade to the web management system for cybersecurity but later denied intentional throttling, heightening public concern.
Senators, frustrated by ongoing issues, questioned the PTA chief about the internet slowdown, intermittent platform shutdowns, and the alleged use of firewalls. Sharmila Farooqi of PPP and MQM-Pakistan Senator Mustafa Kamal expressed concerns over the PTA’s handling of the situation and its impact on businesses.
The PTA chairman assured that internet issues would likely be resolved within a week and clarified that VPNs were not being blocked. He added that the country would experience slow internet for another six days.
Committee Chairman Aminul Haque urged the government to ensure 5G availability by March. Later, in a statement to Independent Urdu, the PTA chairman explained that the upgrade of the web management system was routine and that the system had been in place since the 1990s.
The PTA also informed the Lahore High Court of the submarine cable fault affecting internet speeds and ongoing repairs. The court adjourned the hearing until August 27, granting additional time for detailed responses from the federal government and other authorities.
