Ijaz Kakakhel Islamabad
In response to hue and cry over slowdown of internet across the country, State Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja on Sunday claimed that the government neither slowdown or shutdown the internet. She claimed that the internet was slowdown due to the excessive use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)
Talking to journalists, she said the reason why people faced difficulty in accessing internet services was because they had installed VPNs on their cellphones after facing difficulties in downloading some apps. “The government is fully aware of people’s frustration over poor internet services. And now we will try to make sure that people do not face difficulties in accessing these services.”
Shiza said it was wrong to say that the government wanted to stifle dissent. “The government is always ready to assist the IT industry.” She said this year there were record exports of IT products from Pakistan. “The IT sector is at the top of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s priorities,” she said, adding that, “Investment in the country has increased due to the efforts made from the Special Investment Facilitation Council’s (SIFC) platform.”
The minister also announced the construction of IT parks in Islamabad and Karachi, in which, she said, over 10,000 people would get jobs. She also announced setting up 250 e-rozgar centers across the country.
The minister for state dismissed claims that the government had taken measures to silence people, attributing recent internet issues to high traffic and the use of VPNs. She emphasized that the situation has been resolved and advised against using VPNs to avoid pressure on the internet.
Fatima stressed the importance of discussing Pakistan’s issues responsibly and acknowledged the challenges posed by negative perceptions of the country.
She highlighted that such perceptions can impact investment opportunities and stated that the government is committed to supporting the industry and improving the country’s image. The Minister also outlined ongoing efforts to enhance Pakistan’s IT infrastructure, including the introduction of four new cables following authorization.
