Editorial
The government of Pakistan has recently addressed the ongoing internet disruptions, but their response has left many concerns unaddressed. The authorities have attempted to deflect the issue by blaming VPN usage for the slowdown, with the IT minister pointing fingers at those using VPNs to access social media. However, this explanation fails to acknowledge the prolonged nature of the internet disruptions.
Additionally, there has been no acknowledgment of the reported firewall testing that is said to be causing the problem. Despite inquiries by lawmakers, the government seems evasive regarding the existence of a firewall. The lack of transparency in addressing this issue has left the public and businesses, particularly digital firms, in a state of uncertainty.
Furthermore, the government’s dismissal of the economic impact on the telecom and IT sectors, as well as on online education, has raised concerns about their understanding of the significance of reliable internet access. The dismissive attitude towards the impact on students, businesses, and the overall economy is troubling and fails to offer a viable solution to the ongoing internet disruptions.
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Accordingly, the government’s approach to the internet disruptions lacks transparency and appears to prioritize deflecting blame over finding a meaningful solution. This inadequate response raises questions about the authorities’ willingness to address the concerns of the public and businesses affected by the internet issues. Notably, the disruptions are creating a political disadvantage for the PMLN government, which is already facing a crisis of political legitimacy. The youth want a progressive approach from the government so that they get more and better economic opportunities. In the modern world of technology and internet connectivity, internet facilitation is a must. Therefore, the government must end this policy of negligence and denial and ensure timely and speedy internet as the provision of the internet is taken as a fundamental right now.
