PAKISTAN FACES SLOW INTERNET, SENATE COMMITTEE SLAMS PTA

In a recent Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology meeting, concerns were raised over the deteriorating internet services in Pakistan. Chaired by Palwasha Khan, the session witnessed a heated debate, with members like Senator Afnanullah Khan and Senator Humayun expressing frustration over the country’s sluggish internet speeds. The senators highlighted that the poor internet connectivity had led to the exodus of several e-commerce platforms from Pakistan, severely impacting the digital economy.

BUSINESSES SUFFER FROM SLOW INTERNET, SENATORS LASH OUT AT PTA

The senators underscored the plight of businesses and everyday users, who have been unable to carry out essential tasks such as uploading or downloading media files on platforms like WhatsApp. Senator Humayun did not mince words when he accused the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and the IT ministry of failing to maintain satisfactory internet services, stating, “You people have ruined the business activities.”In response, the IT Secretary clarified that the issues were more prominent in cellular networks rather than WiFi services. However, a PTA official claimed that they had not received any formal complaints about slow internet speeds, a statement that did little to pacify the irate committee members.

GOVERNMENT PLANS FIREWALL TO CONTROL SOCIAL MEDIA, MEETING POSTPONED

The meeting, originally intended to address the installation of firewalls by the government across Internet Service Providers (ISPs), had to be postponed due to the unavailability of PTA officials. The proposed firewall, reportedly equipped with deep packet inspection (DPI) technology, is designed to monitor and control internet traffic, specifically targeting social media platforms. This move comes shortly after the Punjab government enacted the Defamation Law 2024, signaling increased regulation of online spaces in Pakistan.