• The IT Minister denies attempts to restrict web access, arguing that the problem stems from users trying to circumvent local networks.
• He said the issues had continued for “several days” but have now been resolved, and announced a new Prime Minister-led body to digitise services
• Four new internet cables will be laid and an auction for 5G spectrum will take place early next year
KARACHI: The country’s information technology minister on Sunday categorically denied reports that the government was restricting the internet.
Internet speeds have slowed significantly over the past few weeks, with users facing difficulties sending or downloading media and voice notes via WhatsApp on mobile data connections, and slow browsing speeds even on broadband connections.
Businesses and internet service providers (ISPs) had argued that the government’s efforts to monitor internet traffic had caused slowdowns in digital services, leading to economic losses.
Shaza Fatima Khawaja acknowledged public dissatisfaction over internet issues at a press conference in Islamabad on Sunday.
“I want to reassure the public that the internet is not being blocked or slowed down by the government,” she said.
She denied any government involvement and claimed internet speeds had slowed down because many people had switched to virtual private networks (VPNs) to access certain apps.
“The issue was limited to some services on certain apps not being downloaded, which led a large portion of the population to start using VPNs,” the minister said, without naming the apps or services that were suspended.
VPNs are widely used around the world to access content that may be inaccessible or blocked to internet users in their own countries.
The minister explained that when large numbers of people use VPNs to bypass content delivery networks (CDNs) and local caches and connect directly to live servers, it puts additional strain on the system and ultimately slows down internet speeds.
“I can state under oath that the government has not shut down or slowed down the internet,” she said, adding that the problem had lasted “for several days.”
But the government did not acknowledge there was a problem until last week, when both Khawaja and her uncle, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, spoke out on the matter.
Asked about the confusion after a Senate standing committee meeting on Thursday, Khawaja said the issue has been overblown.
The government operates a “web management system” and is currently upgrading it, she said.
However, while he used vague terms to define the government’s actions, Asif acknowledged the government’s efforts to monitor content on social media.
“We are currently in a transitional phase after which all these features will be available,” Asif told media last week, adding that “there are some restrictions to prevent threatening and defamatory content against nations and individuals,” but did not specify whether these were part of the firewall.
“Problem solved.”
The IT minister on Sunday asserted that he was commenting now as the matter had been “resolved today” and said he would not make any statement based on “incomplete information”.
She added that the government is “working tirelessly” to resolve the issue and has been meeting with ISPs and telecommunications companies.
It also plans to meet with the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority next week to “ensure that users in the country do not face similar issues again.”
But the minister did not comment on reports of the establishment of a national “firewall”, a security system that can be used to control the online space as well as monitor network traffic, which has been widely blamed for slowing broadband connections.
Government Initiatives
Speaking at the press conference, Khawaja also listed several initiatives to boost the IT industry and promote digitalisation of government agencies.
She said the government plans to auction 5G spectrum early next year to make high-speed internet “affordable” and “accessible” to people.
She said four new internet cables were being laid connecting Pakistan with the Gulf countries and Africa to improve bandwidth.
Khawaja said the government was focusing on digitising the bureaucracy and for this purpose, a draft bill to set up a National Digital Commission had been submitted to the Law Ministry.
The new body, chaired by the Prime Minister, will oversee the digitalisation of the economy and governance.
This digital intervention will eliminate the need for paperwork and also remove bottlenecks in governance and administrative functions.
Support for the IT industry
The minister added that Rs 60 billion has been allocated for IT projects in this fiscal year’s budget, of which Rs 4 billion will be spent on training the youth.
More than 300,000 young people are set to be trained by Chinese electronics maker Huawei, and the government is also in talks with Google, Microsoft and Meta to train young people in IT-related skills.
She said two new technology parks are being set up in Karachi and Islamabad to reduce the capital cost of small and medium IT companies.
A fund of Rs 2,000 crore has been allocated to support and invest in start-ups, and a “bridge start programme” has been planned for companies whose products have already attracted commercial interest.
These companies will be sent to international accelerators for exposure and research.
Published in Dawn on August 19, 2024
