KARACHI – Internet users in Karachi and several other cities across Pakistan have been reporting slow speed of internet for days as they are facing trouble in using various social media platforms.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is yet to issue an official statement to address the concerns with some reports attributing the slowed internet to installation of firewall.
Previously, PTA issued a statement, claiming that internet services are fully restored in Pakistan as submarine cables, which were damaged in August, were repaired.
Amid prevailing uncertainty over the reasons behind the internet speed, the Chairman of the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), Sajjad Syed, has said that the issue of internet speed is likely to be resolved within three months.
In a statement, the P@SHA chairman said if messages are being sent on WhatsApp but images are not, it is likely due to ongoing monitoring.
He explained that surveillance or the installation of firewalls is common in every country, and perhaps there is an issue with the procedure in Pakistan. He added that in the United States, security personnel will arrive at your home within 10 minutes if inappropriate content is shared.
He also noted that there is no issue with fixed-line internet, and full-time IT workers do not face any problems, but part-time IT workers face issues due to the unavailability of fixed-line connections.
On the other hand, Sajjad Syed has rejected claims that IT companies are leaving Pakistan due to internet speed issues.
