Govt 'working hard' to resolve internet issues

IT minister hopes submarine cable fault will be resolved by Oct end

ISLAMABAD:

State Minister for Information Technology, Shaza Fatima, acknowledged on Thursday the slowdown in internet speed across the country, citing "certain problems" contributing to the issue. She assured that the government was actively working with the IT and Telecom sectors to resolve it.

During the Senate's question hour, the minister attributed part of the slowdown to spectrum-related challenges, admitting that the current internet speed was below standard.

She also noted ongoing issues with the submarine cable, which are expected to be resolved by the end of October. The government remains in constant communication with the IT and Telecom sectors to address these concerns.

The minister described the internet as the "foundation" for the youth, stating that the government was striving to provide this service to every household.

She mentioned that the PTA operated a web management system and added that X was blocked under the directives of the interior ministry. She further noted that the PTA was registering virtual private networks (VPNs).

VPNs are widely used around the world to access content that may be inaccessible or blocked for internet users in their home country. They are also used by users to maintain privacy.

The IT minister further highlighted that the Data Protection Bill would soon be presented in the House, as the country continues to face cybersecurity challenges.

She noted that financial fraud cases were on the rise but assured that the government would take steps to prevent any adverse impact on businesses.

Earlier this month, the PTA dispelled rumours and clarified that VPNs in the country were not being blocked.