Tech Desk 
Jul 18, 2024
The services of social media platforms, Instagram and Facebook, remained disrupted for the second consecutive day in Pakistan on Thursday, with users venting frustration on other social media platforms.
According to downdetector, the outage was reported yesterday (Wednesday) and persisted till midnight. Services were restored in the wee hours but were again disrupted today.
Downdetector, which tracks outages by collating status reports from several sources including users, showed that the areas most affected were Karachi, Peshawar, Lahore, Rawalpindi.
On Wednesday, internet monitor Netblocks had reported a nationwide disruption of Facebook. “Metrics show restrictions to Facebook are in effect on multiple providers in #Pakistan adding to the ongoing X ban imposed since 17 February; the new measure comes on the Islamic holy day of Ashura when authorities typically restrict mobile internet services.
It should be noted that the Punjab government had sent a letter to the interior ministry on July 11 (Thursday), requesting the ban on social media platforms during Muharram 6-11.
The letter stated: “The Standing Committee of Cabinet on Law and Order, while discussing security and administrative arrangements for Muharram 2024 in its meeting on July 4, 2024, decided that social media platforms—Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, TikTok, etc.—be suspended across the province of Punjab from the 6th to the 11th of Muharram, 2024 to control hate material/misinformation and to avoid sectarian violence.”
However, it was later clarified that no final decision had been taken by the federal government in this regard. Moreover, the Ministry of Interior said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will take the final decision on the matter.
The government had suspended cellular phone service across the country during the Muharram processions. The internet service also remained suspended in areas along the route of the main processions during Youm-e-Ashura.
