Tech Desk 
Jan 02, 2025
In a recent meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology (IT), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Retd. Major General Hafeezur Rehman made a significant statement about the throttling of internet services across the country.
The chairman, affirming his state of ablution, pledged to take an oath regarding the major issues related to telecom infrastructure.
Up to three out of seven submarine cables connecting the country to the global internet connection were cut, resulting in severe internet outages. However, the PTA chairman further confirmed that the cables had been successfully restored by October, following months of delay.
People across the country have experienced serious interruptions in online connectivity, which adversely impacted their online jobs. In response to concerns over the internet outage, the chairman revealed that he had requested the leading social media platforms, including Facebook and TikTok, to inquire about the ongoing issues. He outlined that the government has not invested funds in the telecom framework.
He further emphasised the challenges experienced in the digital realm, citing that Meta-owned WhatsApp reported recent problems, despite the efforts to acknowledge these concerns.
The PTA chairman highlighted the significance of building “digital highways” to prevent future connectivity issues and mentioned that without such infrastructure, these problems would continue.
The PTA chairman referred to the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) Act (PICA), interpreting that the government has the mandate to block or unblock any social media platform. He informed the committee that the PTA doesn’t have any mediator, and it is unable to slow down social media apps.
