Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister of State for IT and Telecom, made it clear on Thursday that Pakistan’s internet limits are for security reasons, not to hinder public access.
“No one is interested in shutting down the internet,” she stated, clarifying that the Ministry of Interior makes such decisions after conducting a thorough evaluation.
This announcement comes after a recent order from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to block unregistered VPNs in an effort to prevent their exploitation by terrorist organizations, as issued by the Ministry of Interior.
An official ministry letter detailed how criminal organizations were using virtual private networks (VPNs) for covert communications and to access prohibited content. Khawaja emphasized that the government is collaborating with the IT sector to lessen the impact of interruptions.“Law and order is paramount for us, but we will make every effort to ensure no disruption to the industry,” she assured.
The PTA has clarified that the recent internet slowdowns were not caused by VPN limitations but rather by damage to submarine cables, which has now been repaired.
According to PTA authorities, Pakistan’s internet is now dependent on seven underwater cables, all of which are vulnerable to weather-related threats. The Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) expressed concern, warning that the IT and ITeS sectors in Pakistan could be significantly impacted by VPN restrictions and slow internet.
The group expressed concern that these shifts could have a devastating effect on Pakistan’s image globally and lead to “irreparable financial losses” for the sector.
The Ministry of IT in Pakistan insists it will strike a balance between supporting the IT sector and meeting national security requirements, even as the sector struggles to overcome these obstacles.
