Digital disconnect: the cost of Internet disruptions
Over the past decade, the Internet has become an essential part of modern life, driving advancements in healthcare, education, business, and governance. However, in Pakistan, this crucial infrastructure has frequently been disrupted, leaving millions without access and sparking debates on governance, freedom of speech, economic impact, and the nation’s digital future.
The introduction of mobile broadband and the rise in internet usage have transformed Pakistan. With more than 124 million internet users as of 2023, the country has made significant strides in the digital domain, according to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). Yet, despite these advancements, internet outages have become commonplace, disrupting many aspects of daily life.
Tied to turmoil
Significant Internet blackouts have occurred in Pakistan in recent years, usually connected to protests, political ups and downs, or limitations enforced by the government. While the country’s authorities frequently justify these disturbances as necessary to uphold law and order, they have a significant impact on the economy of the nation and the personal incomes and democratic liberties of its citizens.
Political turmoil in particular has been a major reason for Internet shutdowns over the past couple of years. The arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan in May 2023 was one of the most prominent instances. Following widespread protests, the government throttled mobile Internet access and restricted access to several social media sites including Facebook, YouTube, and X. Digital firms were paralysed and communication was severely hindered during the days-long disruption.
Authorities have also used the same tactics in the past during times of political unrest. For instance, during the 2017 Faizabad sit-in protests, the authorities blocked social media platforms and websites due to fears about the dissemination of ‘false information’ that could incite violence.
Critics contend that these policies violate people's right to free expression and information, even if the government defends them as essential for preserving the peace. Public dissatisfaction has been exacerbated by these choices' lack of openness and judicial monitoring. “Over the past one year, Pakistan has experienced Internet shutdowns on a number of occasions, including general elections. These shutdowns not only disrupt access to information, but also deny people their right to free speech and livelihood,” shared Digital Rights Foundation spokesperson Maheen Rasheed.
According to a study by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, a mere 24 hours of Internet shutdown leads to a direct loss of Rs1.3 billion, or 0.57 per cent of the country’s daily GDP. In 2023, Pakistan’s economy suffered a loss of Rs65 billion or $237.6 million due to Internet shutdowns. The disruptions, as such, not only adversely affect democracy, but also the very economy the government is trying to stabilise, exacerbating frustration among citizens.
Cybersecurity precautions
Internet disruptions in Pakistan have also been caused by cybersecurity threats in addition to political factors. Sometimes, cyberattacks targeting vital infrastructure, such as banks and government agencies, have triggered brief shutdowns as a precaution. These measures show the need for a stronger cybersecurity framework to protect sensitive data and systems. According to experts, proactive steps like enhancing digital literacy and fortifying firewalls would be more successful than reactive shutdowns.
Impact on commerce
It is impossible to overestimate the economic cost of Internet outages in Pakistan. Businesses that depend on digital platforms lose millions of rupees for every hour of Internet outage. The May 2023 outage cost Pakistan's economy an estimated $30 million every day, according to a report by NetBlocks.
Pakistan runs the risk of slipping farther behind in the digital race, which would put its businesses and inhabitants at a serious disadvantage in a world that is becoming more interconnected by the day. “Pakistan’s internet penetration is 47 per cent. In the last two years, it has grown by 20 to 30 per cent but if we look at our neighboring countries, Internet penetration in India is 49 per cent, in Bangladesh it’s between 50 to 60 per cent, Sri Lanka’s is 50 per cent and it is higher in Nepal compared to Pakistan as well,” said Asad Baig, the founder of Media Matters for Democracy (MMfD). He also noted that while Internet shutdowns have a significant impact, the issue extends beyond them; arbitrary actions, such as the implementation of firewalls and other inspection tools, often slow down Internet speeds and create an overall sense of unreliability.
Online service companies, freelancers, and e-commerce platforms are among the most severely impacted. One of the best places in the world to work as a freelancer is Pakistan, which has a growing freelance community. Internet outages result in missed deadlines, lost business, and lower pay for these employees. Additionally, companies that rely on digital marketing, supply chain management and online banking experience inefficiencies and delays. These disruptions worsen the problems of small and medium-sized businesses and investor confidence in a nation already facing economic difficulties.
Online businesses get directly impacted by any kind of Internet disruption be it slow bandwidth for days or be it complete shutdown. “The impact can be seen across three aspects: customers, warehouses, and riders. Customers are usually less affected as they often place orders from homes or offices with WiFi, which provides better connectivity than mobile data. Similarly, warehouses have mitigated some challenges by increasing bandwidth to manage order processing more effectively. However, riders are the most affected, as they rely heavily on mobile data for navigation and communication,” said Haziq Ahmed, the co-founder of the online grocery delivery service Krave Mart. The riders, he explained, end up unable to provide effective service as soon as they leave the warehouse because they can only rely on data Internet for maps.
“We have started navigating around these issues by helping the riders download offline maps and making them aware of the fact that they should call the customer to understand the address well,” Haziq said, adding that such steps help ensure deliveries on time. In these scenarios, most of the customers are also understanding enough and they also realise that due to Internet disruptions, the orders do get late.
"The business is growing as more people shift to ordering groceries through online services; however, Internet issues have somewhat impacted the quality of service we strive to deliver," he lamented.
More than an IT issue
Since early August 2024, Pakistani Internet customers have been dealing with poor internet speed and connectivity problems. Industry sources claim that poor connectivity, or frequent outages, make it difficult for millions of users from various domains to access apps and data services. Pakistan has around 189 million cellular and 111 million internet users out of a population of about 240 million, according to industry figures.
The market value of the IT and IT-enabled services sector is estimated to be $3.5 billion, or roughly one per cent of the nation's GDP. Regarding the main causes of these disruptions, local industry experts have differing opinions. Some believe that these problems have arisen as a result of the government's recent efforts to implement updated national security procedures that aim to closely monitor users' activities for dangers to social, religious or national security.
“The government classifies software houses and the IT industry as the only component of the entire IT sector, but in reality, the economic boost comes from e-commerce and the Internet as a tool. Our neighboring countries have developed the backbone of all industries through IT,” Baig remarked. “The entire business sector is part of the IT industry, with even content creators generating income from the Internet. Small, medium, and large businesses are all being impacted, yet there’s no way to estimate the extent of damage from these disruptions,” he added.
In February 2024, X, formerly known as Twitter, was totally blocked in Pakistan. The PTA and the Ministry of Information Technology constructed a nationwide firewall to regulate user access and reduce infractions. Cable landing stations, the ports of entry where underwater internet data cables join the nation's upstream Internet network, are where this firewall is situated. The persistent reduction in Internet speed is mostly caused by technical problems with underwater data cables and the rise in illicit VPN usage in Pakistan.
A few foreign businesses have temporarily reduced the scope of their operations in Pakistan. Iqra Saleem shared, “I used to work with a company that collaborated with several freelancers and focused on content writing for the last five years. However, last November, the company had to shut down because, due to consistent internet disruptions, we couldn’t meet our targets and started losing clients.” She added that many other students like her are now left with no options, as platforms like Fiverr and others no longer rely on Pakistani freelancers. This is because they are unable to meet deadlines or reach targets due to slow internet or restrictions.
Digital rights’ concerns
As education and healthcare services moved online during the Covid-19 epidemic, the significance of constant Internet connectivity was brought to light. However, these vital industries have been continuously weakened by Internet outages. During shutdowns, students in distant areas — who are already at a disadvantage due to poor internet connectivity — face additional obstacles. The digital divide grows as a result of the cessation of online courses, research, and educational resource access. The healthcare industry, which depends more and more on online consultations and telemedicine, is also negatively affected. Internet outages can impede emergency services, delay important communications, and make it more difficult to retrieve patient records.
The legal system of Pakistan permits the government to limit access to the Internet in specific situations. The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) of 2016 and the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) Act of 1996 empower authorities to halt services in order to preserve public order and national security. However, human rights advocates are concerned about this legislation’s vague and expansive wording. These powers can be abused to stifle dissent and restrict freedom of expression because there is no independent oversight or accountability.
Digital literacy programmes can empower citizens with proactive strategies for protecting themselves from false news and cyber threats. “DRF’s digital literacy programmes connect citizens with helpful resources such as the Cyber Harassment Helpline for legal services and psychosocial support to mitigate the impacts of false news and cyber threats aimed at them,” shared Rasheed. “Moreover, in a world where children and young adults are constantly exposed to online spaces — whether for leisure, education, or civic engagement — it is equally, if not more, important to educate Pakistan’s youth about cyber threats,” she explained.
Rasheed highlighted that DRF conducts extensive training sessions in educational institutions across the country, equipping students with tools to safeguard themselves and their data online while fostering caution when engaging with online news and information. “In Lahore alone, DRF conducted digital literacy sessions with 4,000 students from public and private schools during 2024,” she added. She also pointed out that Pakistan's political climate restricts open commentary on ongoing misinformation campaigns. However, defining the parameters of misinformation remains crucial so individuals can identify and debunk false news within their networks, thereby enhancing digital literacy and curbing the spread of fake news.
While freedom of speech is significantly impacted by such disruptions, digital rights extend beyond it — they also include the right to conduct business and access essential services. At the core of digital rights is the fundamental right to access the Internet. “We’re being told that national security and cybersecurity concerns are at play, but there’s also the issue of incitement and disinformation. How can we stop it with just firewalls and DPI? These measures only add to the concern and create more problems,” said Asad Baig. Many organisations and studies cite a loss of $1.6-1.8 million due to internet shutdowns, yet there is no evidence to suggest that deploying DPI or deep packet inspection has successfully halted disinformation.
Pakistan's Internet shutdown policies have also drawn frequent criticism from international groups, such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. They contend that these acts go against the international agreements and standards that Pakistan has ratified, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Addressing the root, not the symptoms
In Pakistan, massive public outrage and activism have been sparked by frequent internet interruptions. Citizens, civil society organisations, and digital rights groups have repeatedly called for greater accountability and transparency. The issue in Pakistan is not unique, as governments worldwide have used Internet shutdowns as a tool to control information during emergencies. But given Pakistan's precarious political and economic position, the situation there is especially concerning. Recurring interruptions run the risk of alienating international investors, impeding technical development, and cutting Pakistan off from the world's digital economy.
“The government of Pakistan needs to understand how disinformation spreads, what factors contribute to it, and how it can be controlled,” said the founder of MMFD. “The government must collaborate with both local and international organisations to identify these factors and find solutions. While criminalisation is one approach, it’s not the only solution and won’t address every issue.”
A diversified strategy is needed to address Pakistan's Internet disruption problem: It is imperative to review the legislation controlling Internet shutdowns. To stop abuse, laws should be changed to provide precise definitions, restrictions, and oversight procedures. Enhancing Pakistan’s cybersecurity infrastructure can reduce the need for Internet shutdowns in response to cyber threats. Misinformation can also be stopped from spreading by funding digital literacy initiatives and public awareness campaigns. Pakistan may create more efficient and human rights-abiding crisis management plans by collaborating with international organisations, IT firms, and civil society.
“Pakistan’s current government has been taking a conservative approach towards its digital development agenda despite tall promises of creating an enabling environment for the digital economy,” shared the DRF spokesperson. She also mentioned that international partners should work with their counterparts in Pakistan to ensure that any digital initiatives undertaken in the name of promoting the digital economy are aligned with international best practices on human rights. Without it, Pakistan would stifle digital freedoms and will ultimately lose out on expanding its digital economy. “Other rights advocacy groups, particularly international bodies like the UN Human Rights Committee, could leverage these alarming statistics and disruptions, as documented by DRF, to raise awareness about these issues on the global stage,” the spokesperson said.
Recent Internet outages in Pakistan have brought to light the intricate interactions between social, political, and economic elements. Although the government has legitimate security and order concerns, the frequent use of internet shutdowns as a remedy has a significant financial cost. It is crucial to address the underlying causes and implement more durable solutions if Pakistan is to become a digitally enabled country. Pakistan's capacity to reconcile security with connectivity will determine the future of its digital economy, political liberties, and international standing.