Senate Committee demands report on internet outages and slowdown

The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology, chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan, convened to address concerns over the ongoing slow internet and social media app disruptions.

Internet service providers in Pakistan are reporting significant slowdowns, attributing the disruption to increased government surveillance efforts aimed at enhancing security.

Read Social media disruptions reported across Pakistan

Members of the committee highlighted the significant impact on businesses, with Senator Humayun Mohmand noting that these issues are hampering business operations.

Senator Afnan Ullah reported that the slow internet has caused losses amounting to at least 500 million.

The IT Secretary informed the committee that disruptions in mobile operators' services could be due to technical issues, which are expected to be resolved soon.

In response, the Senate Committee has requested a detailed report on the financial losses incurred due to these internet and social media issues and has directed the relevant authorities to resolve the problem within two weeks.

According to WISPAP, internet speeds have dropped by 30 to 40 per cent over recent weeks, impacting businesses and individuals who depend on reliable connectivity.

The sectors most affected include call centres, e-commerce, and online businesses, with many considering relocating operations to countries with stable internet services.