Pakistan’s IT industry has been facing severe disruptions due to slow internet speeds, causing significant setbacks for local businesses as frequent internet drops have not only hindered productivity but have also led to a loss of ‘trust’ from international clients.
Local IT firms, particularly those involved in web development and digital marketing, are experiencing a drastic decline in efficiency.
Tasks that previously took 5 to 6 hours are now stretching to 10 hours, doubling the workload and operational costs as inefficiency is forcing businesses to pay extra salaries and higher electricity bills, further straining their resources.
The situation has become so ‘awful’ that many international clients are relocating their business to other countries with more reliable internet services.
Business owners in Faisalabad are urging the authorities to address this issue promptly to prevent further damage to the city’s escalating IT sector.
A local entrepreneur grieved, “Our clients abroad are losing trust in us due to these internet issues. We are struggling to meet deadlines and maintain our reputation. Clients are moving to India and Bangladesh due to better internet services.”
The IT community in Faisalabad called for immediate action to improve internet infrastructure, emphasizing that the future of the city’s digital economy depends on it.
Financial strain is also evident, as businesses face challenges in paying staff salaries due to delayed payments as the community urged immediate intervention action to improve internet infrastructure to prevent further setbacks.
Internet causing suffering in educational sector, student’s appeal to Gov
Like the rest of the country, Sukkur is also facing an internet outage. Students there are also being affected and are worried as they say that they have been suffering from this problem for a week now. According to the students, they are mainly faced with data searching and downloading problems. The slow speed of the internet in Faisalabad is causing widespread frustration among software houses, small business owners, students, and online gamers, Students have appealed that the government should solve this problem immediately.
The situation is equally dire for students and online gamers. Students are struggling to complete their homework, while gamers find it impossible to play their favorite games. “It feels like we’re going back to the Stone Age,” said students.
Vice Chancellor of Sukkur IBA University Dr. Asif Ahmed Sheikh says that Internet service plays an important role in the education sector, especially in modern ages. The teaching process is also facing difficulties due to the internet service being affected.
Nationwide internet shutdown challenged in LHC
The nationwide internet shutdown has been legally challenged in Lahore High Court. Registrar’s Office has scheduled an application for a hearing today, with Justice Shakeel Ahmed Nadeem Sarwar presiding over the case.
The application names the federal government and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) among the respondents. Petitioner argues that the internet and social media apps have been shut down across the country without any prior notice or justification. This shutdown is reportedly affecting businesses and various aspects of daily life.
The petitioner contends that the internet shutdown is a violation of fundamental rights and has requested the court to annul the federal government’s decision. The petitioner is seeking an order for the complete and immediate restoration of internet services nationwide.
The hearing is expected to address the significant impact of the internet shutdown on the economy and the daily lives of citizens.
