Govt dismisses firewall concerns amid internet woes

Internet users across Pakistan reported widespread disruptions on Sunday as the government downplayed the issue, saying concerns over a national firewall system are "blown out of proportion".

Downdetector, a website that tracks internet outages, recorded a surge in complaints early Sunday.

The platform logged 57 reports for WhatsApp, 86 for TikTok, and 161 for Instagram outages.

Speaking to a private news channel, Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja said the situation with "the firewall was blown out of proportion," adding that a web management system has been operating in the country for 10 years.

She defended the government's cybersecurity efforts, stating, "There is nothing controversial about a country working on its cyber security. The entire world uses different cybersecurity mechanisms".

The minister pointed out a shift in global security paradigms toward information technology, comparing it to the evolution of economic frameworks.

She also pointed to the country's precarious security landscape. "Pakistan faces millions of cyberattacks daily, making it increasingly difficult to detect terrorist activity," she noted.

Referring to the sacrifices of the armed forces, Fatima added, "More than 100 soldiers have embraced martyrdom in the past month. Wherever the security of the state is concerned, the Ministry of Interior issues directives".

Separately, the IT minister urged business users and freelancers to register their IPs to ensure uninterrupted VPN access.

In a statement, she acknowledged the need for secure communications and emphasized the government's efforts to streamline the VPN activation process.

"We are fully aware of the necessity of secure communication and are working to facilitate smooth VPN usage. Until then, users must continue registering their IPs through the PTA's website," she added.

Users have recently experienced sluggish internet speeds, difficulty downloading media on WhatsApp, and intermittent connectivity issues. Digital analysts suspect that the government may be testing a firewall system capable of monitoring platforms and blocking content, including videos and images of protests shared on social media.

Internet disruptions escalated last week after mobile services were restricted during Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) rally. Critics argue such measures have exacerbated connectivity problems, further fueling public frustration.

Freelancers, IT business affected

Internet services and social media platforms across Pakistan have slowed down significantly, causing severe difficulties for freelancers and those in the IT business.

The disruption began on Saturday night due to ongoing protests by PTI in the federal capital and other areas.

Popular platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok and Facebook are operating at a snail's pace, making even basic tasks like uploading and downloading photos and videos take hours.

PTCL's internet services and Google platforms have also been struggling to maintain regular operations.

The interior minister had assured that services would be restored once the protests concluded, but full connectivity remains elusive. Freelancers, delivery riders, and online businesses are bearing the brunt of the disruption, reporting losses amounting to millions over the past five days.

"We are losing our clients because of this prolonged outage. It's not just about money; it's about our credibility," said one distressed freelancer.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has yet to provide any explanation for the internet slowdown or a timeline for its resolution.

Meanwhile, despite the November 30 deadline passing, the federal government has decided not to immediately block unregistered VPNs.

According to PTA sources, VPN registration will continue, with a decision on unregistered services expected next week.

PTA awaits formal instructions from the Interior Ministry regarding unregistered VPNs. "The fate of unregistered VPNs hinges on further guidance from the Interior Ministry," a PTA official said.

The IT industry, freelancers and other stakeholders have called for an extension of the VPN registration deadline, citing the need for additional time to comply.