Telecom operators are reporting the blackout on social media

Islamabad:

The Telecommunications Services Association has expressed serious concerns over what it calls the recent internet throttling and blocking of social media platforms that have affected the population of Pakistan.

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Lt. Gen. (Retd) Hafeezur Rehman received a stern letter on January 7, 2024 from the Telecommunications Union, which strongly opposed the social media blackout.

In the letter, the association’s General Secretary Kamal Ahmed denounced the repeated instances of blocking the social media platform, citing the events on December 17, 2023 and the latest disruption on January 7, 2024.

The association pointed out the negative impact of such disruptions on Pakistan’s global image at a time when the government is aspiring to position the nation as a prominent ICT hub. Ahmed highlighted the significant inconvenience faced by citizens due to the sudden blocking of social media platforms. He pointed out that the flood of inquiries that flooded the helplines of the telcos left them unable to provide satisfactory answers, leading to escalating consumer outcry and dissatisfaction.

According to media reports, netizens faced a complete blackout on popular social networking sites on Sunday as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf planned to launch its election manifesto and fundraise for the election campaign through a telethon .

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In the letter, the association highlighted the vital role of digital connectivity in people’s lives, business continuity, national productivity and overall perception of the country on the global stage. Expressing concern over the damaging consequences of such actions, the association urged the PtD to conduct a thorough investigation and issue a detailed statement clarifying the incidents and ensuring that steps are taken to prevent such incidents in the future.

While reaffirming their commitment to support the government’s initiatives to transform Pakistan into an ICT powerhouse, telecom operators warned against resorting to censorship measures that hinder the country’s technological progress.

“As of now, the PTA has yet to respond to the association’s concerns, leaving many concerned about the future stability and accessibility of Internet services in Pakistan,” they said in the letter.

“In the wake of these Internet disruptions, stakeholders eagerly await a response from the regulator to address the concerns raised by the Telecommunications Executives Association.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^u2024.

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