WITH the advent of the new government, the focus has shifted to the digitization of the country for better economic prospects. Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz has pushed immensely for setting up I.T. Park in Lahore. This will surely push Pakistan to the forefront of the digital age as Pakistan’s complex socio- political tapestry, digital rights are no longer confined to conversations about internet freedoms or privacy; they are integral to the country’s economic survival and societal progress. Thus, hampering digital rights is not merely a rights issue—it is an economic threat to Pakistan’s future as a viable, competitive and equitable society. In the global landscape, where access to the internet has become synonymous with access to opportunity, the government needs to make an urgent effort to ensure a viable and conducive internet infrastructure.
The debate around digital rights is quite multifaceted and has been intensifying. There have been increasing instances of internet shutdowns and social media platform blocking, especially around election times. This has raised concerns about the infringement of fundamental rights such as freedom of expression and access to information. Arbitrary regulations and internet shutdowns have had a significant economic toll. For instance, the Pakistan Software Houses Association (PASHA) estimated losses of over $1 million per hour for the IT sector alone due to these disruptions. The use of VPNs has become a hot topic, with debates around their impact on privacy and digital rights.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has been implementing measures to throttle VPNs, which are used by many to bypass internet restrictions and access blocked content. This includes a six-hour trial blocking over two dozen VPNs to test the new firewall. These actions have led to noticeable slowdowns and disruptions in internet services. Users have reported difficulties in accessing various online platforms and services, which has affected businesses, freelancers and everyday internet users. The throttling of VPNs has had economic repercussions, with businesses relying on VPNs for secure and efficient communication experiencing significant challenges.
The overall financial impact of internet disruptions in Pakistan has been substantial, with losses amounting to billions of dollars. By throttling VPNs, the government is undermining people’s right to privacy and access to information. VPNs are commonly used to protect personal data and maintain anonymity online and restricting their use raises concerns about surveillance and control. Furthermore, unannounced restrictions on media-sharing features on platforms like WhatsApp in Pakistan have been a significant bone of contention. A particularly troubling form of disruption worth highlighting is the arbitrary content regulation, likely enforced through the installation of what is known as a “firewall” – a deep packet inspection toolkit ostensibly deployed to remove undesirable content. The Pakistani government has been implementing content regulation measures, including the use of firewalls to block access to various communication platforms. These measures have sometimes resulted in restrictions on media-sharing features on WhatsApp, such as sending and receiving voice notes and messages. These restrictions have had a substantial economic impact.
PASHA estimated that such disruptions could lead to economic losses of up to $300 million. Businesses that rely on online platforms for communication and reaching customers have been significantly affected. The restrictions often coincide with political events and protests. For example, disruptions on WhatsApp were reported during political protests led by supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The government has sometimes suspended mobile and internet services in regions with security concerns, leading to widespread communication issues. One of the major criticisms of these restrictions is the lack of transparency and official communication from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and cellular mobile operators (CMOs), leaving users confused. These unannounced restrictions highlight the broader challenges of digital rights and internet freedoms in Pakistan. The financial impact of internet disruptions in Pakistan has been substantial. According to a report by Top10VPN.com, Pakistan ranked first globally for financial losses due to internet and social media app outages and shutdowns in 2024, with a total loss of $1.62 billion. The report highlighted that these disruptions lasted a total of 9,735 hours and affected 82.9 million users. The most costly disruption was the shutdown of the social media platform X, for over eight consecutive days, had an estimated impact of $1.34 billion. The second-highest cost was associated with the internet shutdown in Balochistan, costing $11.8 million over 864 hours.
A critical dimension of these arbitrary actions is the invocation of ‘national security’ as a blanket justification. The government, particularly the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), has cited national security concerns as the primary reason for blocking access to certain websites and social media platforms, which is necessary to thwart anti-national activity. However, in the absence of a clear and specific definition of what constitutes national security, it becomes evident that the significant economic losses resulting from these measures could themselves be considered a threat to national security, rather than the other way around. Therefore, it’s the need of the hour for the government to provide large scale sustainable internet coverage to its citizens for its economy to flourish.
—The writer is Educator at SELD, Sindh.
