Industrialists slam telcos over poor internet, mobile services

KARACHI:

The SITE Association of Industries (SAI) has strongly criticised Pakistan's telecom operators and internet service providers over persistent network disruptions, calling their performance substandard and damaging to business operations.

Industrialists from Karachi's largest industrial zone said frequent internet outages and weak mobile signals were severely affecting communication and threatening industrial productivity.

SAI President Ahmed Azeem Alvi said that for several consecutive days, slow internet speed and poor mobile connectivity had disrupted both domestic and international business communications. He warned that these ongoing technical issues could cause significant financial losses for Pakistan's business community.

In a direct appeal to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Alvi urged immediate intervention, stressing that the inability to maintain communication with foreign buyers had already affected export orders and trade commitments.

"Reliable communication is the backbone of industrial operations," Alvi stated. "When mobile networks and internet services fail, exporters cannot engage with international clients or secure new business opportunities."

He added that the industrial community was increasingly frustrated by poor connectivity, which posed a serious threat to Pakistan's export potential and economic competitiveness.

The SAI president called on the prime minister to take urgent notice and direct telecom companies to enhance their infrastructure and service quality to ensure uninterrupted business operations and sustain the country's industrial growth momentum.