No end to internet outages, problems with communication apps

Karachi: Pakistani authorities continue to ban the Internet. Its latest stunt to monitor social media platforms is proving to be detrimental to millions of people who now rely on digital services and IT-based communication tools, experts say.

Since November 23, most internet users have been reporting intermittent internet outages with social media applications being the most affected.

On Tuesday, WhatsApp users once again reported disruptions to voice and messaging services, as highlighted by Downdetector, a platform that monitors service outages in real-time, only when they occur. Indicates when the number of reports exceeds the normal volume for the period.

The most reported issues included issues with sound, which accounted for 35 percent of user complaints, followed by issues with sending messages and app functionality, both of which contributed 33 percent of the total reported issues. .

Users of the popular photo-sharing app Instagram also reported significant disruptions, with the most common problems affecting the functionality of the app and feed. According to Downdetector data, 66 percent of users reported problems with the Instagram app itself, while 19 percent experienced problems with the feed, and 15 percent experienced other issues.

In both cases, disruptions were reported from across the country, with the urban cities of Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad being the most affected.

Waqas Naeem, visual and digital media consultant and director of marketing at Media Clicks, a digital marketing agency, said internet disruptions not only affect IT businesses, but also affect every sector of the economy.

He added that industries such as telemedicine and remote education, which have become increasingly important, especially post-pandemic, face significant challenges during internet outages, leaving critical health care and Access to learning resources is disrupted.

“Government needs to take these issues seriously and implement concerted measures to prevent such disruptions. The economic and social losses are too great to ignore, especially when they affect everyday citizens. have a direct impact on the lives of people,” Naeem said, adding that “reliable internet is not a luxury — it’s a necessity for development”.

“The scale and impact of these disruptions are unprecedented,” said Shehzad Arshad, chairperson of the Wireless and Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan (Wispap), adding that “while they were intended to address security threats, They have significantly affected digital communications and economic activity.”

Popular platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram and TikTok have been hit hard, leaving millions without basic communication tools. Arshad expressed that by going ahead with these measures despite security concerns, the damage to Pakistan’s digitally dependent society is too great.

Zunira Umar, CEO of The SquarePeg, a digital marketing agency, shared with The News that “two of our international clients were disbanded in the last two weeks as we were unable to post on social media during the peak holiday season. were unable”.

He added: “The irony of running a digital marketing agency without access to social media and the internet will not be lost on many people. With the ease of doing business and no signs of things getting better, I seriously Assessing what options I have left to move my business out of Pakistan.”

According to Geo.tv, Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) Chairperson Sajjad Syed has said that the problem of internet speed is likely to be resolved in three months.

In a statement, the chairperson of P@SHA mentioned that if messages are being sent on WhatsApp, but images are not, then it is possible that ‘monitoring’ is going on.

According to Arshad, Wispap has been actively engaging with regulatory authorities to restore services and is pursuing a more balanced approach that prioritizes both security and connectivity.

“The Internet is the backbone of our modern economy, and any interruption hurts national productivity,” he added.

He advocated a collaborative strategy between government and the private sector, stressing the need for a more flexible, decentralized digital infrastructure to prevent future disruptions.

“Today, small and medium-sized businesses rely heavily on online banking, communication tools, and mobile or desktop applications for their day-to-day operations. The Internet has become so essential that it is as basic as electricity or water. should be considered as a necessity,” Naeem further explained.

He added that when the internet shuts down, the consequences are far-reaching. “Transactions fail, productivity grinds to a halt, and businesses lose millions — sometimes billions.”

According to Naeem, these disruptions also affect e-commerce platforms, which are completely dependent on uninterrupted internet access to process orders, manage deliveries and provide customer support. For consumers, this means delays, errors and loss of confidence in online services.

The chairperson of P@SHA further clarified in his statement that there is no problem with fixed line internet. Full-time IT workers do not face problems, but part-time IT workers suffer due to lack of fixed line connection.

He added that the installation of surveillance or firewalls is a common practice in every country, although there may be loopholes in the procedure. For example, in the US, security personnel can arrive at a residence within 10 minutes if inappropriate content is shared.

The Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) has dismissed claims that IT companies are leaving Pakistan due to internet speed issues.