The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) suspended internet services on Tuesday night for security reasons after violent protests erupted following the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan. The sudden suspension resulted in a loss of economic productivity and digital services, including digital payments. The telecommunication companies in Pakistan witnessed a loss of Rs2.46 billion in revenue, which also means a decrease of Rs861 million in tax revenue for the government.
The shutdown of internet services has had a significant impact on businesses in Pakistan, with mobile broadband services accounting for 60% of their total revenues. On a daily basis, the telecom industry earns approximately Rs820 million, and the government receives around 35% of the revenue. The overall economic loss to the country is likely to be massive.
The directive to halt internet services came from the Ministry of Interior to the PTA, and experts in the ICT sector argue that law enforcement authorities showed laziness by resorting to easy solutions that harmed the economy. The PTA has been functioning more like an extension of a law enforcement agency rather than a technology-related institution that should promote and encourage internet, technology, and innovation.
The indefinite ban on mobile internet has drawn widespread criticism from organizations like GSMA and Amnesty International, calling it a violation of fundamental rights. The GSMA has stated that the ban creates a permissive environment for other human rights violations under the darkness of the internet shutdown, and the restrictions must be lifted immediately. Meanwhile, the Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued notices to the PTA, federal government and others on a petition against the suspension and restriction of internet services across the country.
The US State Department has also expressed concerns over the recent developments in Pakistan, saying that it was closely monitoring the situation in the country. The head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee urged the Pakistani government to immediately restore internet services across the country and reduce tensions, calling the shutdown a violation of the right to access information. The committee expressed its concerns over the dangerous suppression of the Pakistani people’s freedoms, including access to information.
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