ISLAMABAD: The nationwide suspension of mobile broadband service has caused an estimated revenue loss of Rs820 million, while the government has lost around Rs287 million in shape of tax revenue.
Various Telecom industry leaders have also voiced their concerns on internet suspension.
In a tweet CEO Jazz Aamir Ibrahim said that shutting down the internet is not a solution to anything. It creates more problems than it solves. “For almost 24 hours, 125 million Pakistanis have been without mobile internet – a critical tool in emergencies & productivity,” he said. Aamir stressed that the devastating effect on the economy is quantifiable but the inconvenience to people is incalculable.
Similarly, Muhammad Zohaib Khan, Chairman of Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) said, “Internet is our lifeline, our office, our communications infrastructure and the IT industry can’t operate without it. IT & ITeS services are already under a lot of pressure on account of stagnation and experiencing a probable decline in the exports of IT services due to the bad governmental policies & an utter lack of continuity in policies; and, now the political turmoil has completely stopped the IT industry’s operations.”
P@SHA Chief has vociferously and categorically demanded the immediate resumption of internet services to the IT industry. He also maintained that internet service quality in the country has already been shrinking capacity, particularly, those of data services.
Meanwhile, ride-hailing and online food delivery businesses in Pakistan stated that their operations got drastically affected. Individuals who depend on digital apps such as Careem, InDrive, FoodPanda and others saw significant loss in earnings while digital payments have come to a standstill. The suspension caused widespread inconvenience and hardships to the masses.
An official from Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) confirmed that mobile broadband services were suspended in the country, falling short of giving a timeline for restoration.
