ISLAMABAD: The government on Monday tacitly acknowledged in the National Assembly that it was responsible for ongoing internet disruptions and social media monitoring, citing security concerns as the driving factor.
“Pakistan faces significant security threats, necessitating a controlled approach. We cannot leave social media unregulated like other countries,” stated Parliamentary Secretary for Cabinet Secretariat Sajid Mehdi. His comments came in response to opposition criticism over slow internet speeds and alleged restrictions on online platforms.
The debate arose during a calling attention notice from JUI-F lawmaker Aliya Kamran regarding sluggish internet speeds nationwide. Mehdi attributed the disruptions to “security reasons” and revealed efforts to regulate VPN usage, noting that 37,000 users had already been registered.
Mehdi further claimed that outdated technology, including limited fibre-optic coverage—15% in Pakistan compared to 40% in India—was a contributing factor. He announced plans for a 5G spectrum auction by April 2025, referencing a statement by State Minister for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja. However, he dismissed concerns of extreme slowness, blaming issues like congestion, theft, and load-shedding without detailed explanations.
Kamran criticized the government for its attempts to control social media through VPN registration and digital firewalls, arguing such measures were detrimental to the IT sector. She highlighted Pakistan’s poor ranking of 141 out of 158 countries on a global internet speed index, ridiculing claims of progress when 3G and 4G services remain unreliable.
Leader of the Opposition Omar Ayub Khan accused the government of curbing online access due to the popularity of PTI and its chairman, Imran Khan. He argued that internet restrictions had driven businesses abroad and caused job losses, calling on the deputy speaker to investigate alleged misstatements by IT ministry officials and the PTA.
Ayub claimed intelligence agencies were interfering with PTA operations, asserting that the situation was less about technical faults and more about deliberate restrictions. “It seems efforts are underway to impose a model akin to North Korea or the former Soviet Union in Pakistan,” he warned.
Story by Amir Wasim
