In Islamabad, the government’s recent attempt to explain the persistent internet disruptions by attributing them to a surge in Virtual Private Network usage has ignited significant backlash from digital rights advocates, businesses, and IT experts.
State Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja recently attributed the internet slowdowns to increased VPN usage, claiming that this surge has overwhelmed the country’s internet infrastructure. However, this explanation has not been well-received. Critics argue that the minister’s statement raises more questions than it answers.
Digital Rights Advocate Farieha Aziz criticized the minister’s explanation, asking, “What prompted this sudden increase in VPN usage if not the recent bans on X and the disruption of WhatsApp, which impeded media transfer and downloads?”
Aziz noted that Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, had confirmed there were no issues on their end, implying a local fault. She expressed skepticism about the government’s communication strategy, recalling how previous statements about internet disruptions were inconsistent and misleading.
IT expert M. Tanveer Nandla also challenged the minister’s claims. He questioned why VPN usage had become necessary in the first place, suggesting that the government’s actions may have intentionally created confusion and disruption.
Nandla accused the government of employing a Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) firewall that slows internet speeds by analyzing data packets, contributing to the slowdown.
Furthermore, businesses and the general public have expressed frustration over the internet issues. The Pakistan Software Houses Association has urged the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) to address the severe impacts on the IT sector, while the LCCI President warned of escalating problems if the situation is not rectified.
Shahzad Arshad of the Wireless and Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan warned of a potential exodus of businesses due to the deteriorating connectivity and increased operational costs.
The general sentiment is one of increasing frustration and concern over the government’s handling of the internet crisis, highlighting the urgent need for transparency and effective solutions.
