The internet in Pakistan faced problems recently. People said the government slowed it down. Shaza Fatima Khawaja, the IT minister, said this was not true.
On Thursday, Khawaja told the PTA to report on the internet issues. Many people had trouble connecting to the internet. She said the government was updating the web system to fight cyber threats.
Businesses and internet providers said the government’s monitoring slowed down services. This caused economic losses. The Lahore High Court called the government and PTA to discuss this.
Khawaja spoke at a press conference in Islamabad. She said the public’s frustration was understandable. She reassured them the internet was not shut down or slowed down by the government.
Some apps had issues. This made people use VPNs. Using many VPNs slowed down the internet. She explained that VPNs bypass local servers and put pressure on main servers. This causes internet slowdowns.
Khawaja said the government worked hard to fix the issue. They met with ISPs and telecom companies. They have a meeting with the PTA next week. The goal is to prevent such problems in the future.
Internet issues results of VPNs, Khawaja to focus on solutions
She said there was no truth to the rumor about throttling the internet to stop dissent. The internet is important, and people should talk about it carefully. Wrong information can hurt the industry and the country’s image.
The telecom sector has revenue problems. Khawaja said the government wants to invest in digitalization. They will make policies and budgets to help the industry.
Earlier, Khawaja addressed concerns about a government firewall. She said it was routine for internet security. The news about the firewall was exaggerated. The government always had a web-management system. They are just upgrading it now.
She also mentioned plans for 5G technology. The government talks about higher internet speeds. She said it is the government’s right to improve security against cyber attacks.
Khawaja’s main message was clear. The government did not slow down the internet. They are improving cybersecurity. They are working to ensure better service for everyone. The public should speak responsibly about the internet. This helps protect the industry and the country’s image. The government is committed to supporting the telecom sector and its growth.
To read our blog on “PTA Blocks Social Media Applications for Firewall Testing,” click here.
