- Assures she remains in close contact with IT authorities to address ongoing internet issues
- IT experts contest state minister’s claim on VPNs use, recommending targeted firewalls to avoid widespread disruption
ISLAMABAD: State Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja firmly denied any governmental involvement in the recent internet slowdown across the country during a press conference in Islamabad on Sunday. Instead, she attributed the issue to the widespread use of virtual private networks (VPNs) by users, which she claimed led to the slowdown of “their phones.”
It is important to mention here that most government officials including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif down to CM Punjab Mariam Nawaz and other senior and junior ministers use a VPN for X (twitter), which by the government’s own admission has been banned in Pakistan
“I swear the government of Pakistan did not block or slow down the internet,” Khawaja asserted, addressing the growing public frustration over the intermittent internet issues that have plagued the nation.
Khawaja explained that the government has been in constant consultation with experts, working tirelessly to understand and resolve the situation. She noted that users resorted to using VPNs when certain applications failed to download, adding that “turning VPN on slows down the phone.”
This statement comes amidst widespread disruptions to internet services, with millions of users struggling to maintain connectivity, particularly with mobile data in certain regions. The Wireless and Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan (WISPAP) and other experts have suggested that these issues may be linked to increased security and surveillance measures, including the installation of a firewall designed to control the dissemination of unwanted content.
Earlier in the week, Khawaja defended the government’s decision to implement this internet firewall, describing it as a necessary cybersecurity measure. “Every country in the world takes such steps,” she stated on Thursday, emphasizing the need for enhanced capabilities to combat evolving cybersecurity threats. “Look at the cybersecurity attacks being carried out on the country and globally. States must respond adequately to these threats,” she added.
Khawaja assured that she remains in close contact with IT authorities to address ongoing internet issues, announcing that a meeting on the matter is scheduled for next week. In response to the current connectivity challenges, she revealed that the government is actively working on increasing internet capacity by laying four additional internet cables across Pakistan.
During the press conference, Khawaja also shared significant developments in the IT sector, including the government’s plan to introduce the 5G spectrum in 2025, which she promised would deliver the fastest internet speeds. Furthermore, she highlighted the foundation stones laid for IT Parks in Islamabad and Karachi, initiatives expected to generate over 10,000 jobs and millions of dollars in revenue. These IT Parks are being developed in collaboration with South Korea.
The minister also disclosed plans to establish at least 250 e-employment centers nationwide in partnership with provincial governments. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, she mentioned, has allocated more than Rs60 billion for the IT sector in the budget despite the challenging economic conditions. Khawaja praised the sector’s exports, which have reached Rs3 billion, and noted that the IT sector is among the top priorities of the Prime Minister and the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC). Additionally, she announced the creation of a digitisation commission, to be led by the Prime Minister himself.
IT experts contest minster’s claim on VPNs use
Meanwhile, the Information Technology (IT) experts ridiculed State Minister for IT Shaza Fatima’s claim that the widespread use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) caused internet disruption in the country.
During a news conference in Islamabad, Shaza Fatima categorically stated that the internet was neither blocked nor deliberately slowed down, but rather that the increased use of VPNs caused technical strain on the network.
The IT experts reacted strongly to the state minister’s claim, saying “either the minister was demonstrating naivety about this serious issue or she was simply befooling the public.” They argued that VPN usage only slows down the individual user’s connection by 10 to 15 percent and does not cause nationwide internet issues.
They suggested that the real cause might be the installation of a firewall to monitor social traffic, which could be affecting overall internet speed.
They recommended that the government implement targeted firewalls to avoid disrupting online businesses and general internet use.
