The Telecom Operators Association (TOA) on Monday urged the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to explain Sunday’s nationwide internet outage and expressed concern that such access censorship measures will severely undermine the government’s ICT-related growth ambitions.
In a letter sent to PTA Chairman Major General (R) Hafeez Ur Rehman, TOA stated,
Unfortunately, yesterday evening, the people of Pakistan were once again unable to access several social media sites like Instagram, X, YouTube, Facebook, etc. Also, it appears that the internet was being throttled – leading to significant degradation in user experience across the country. This is the second such incident that has transpired in the recent past; earlier the nation experienced a similar setback on 17 December 2023,”
TOA said the telecom sector endorses and supports the government’s initiatives to internationally position Pakistan as a key ICT hub to grow our IT exports, attract foreign direct investment, and fast-track the digital journey of the country.
“In fact, we are a vital partner to the government in this endeavor. It is in this spirit that we want to register our strong concern that access censorship measures, like the ones that were undertaken last night, will severely undermine the government’s ICT-related growth ambitions and will adversely impact Pakistan’s image internationally. Therefore, in this day and age, creating impediments in access to digital social media platforms and/or websites is an attempt in vain and in the long run do more harm than good,” it argued.
Yesterday, the websites and helplines of telecom operators were inundated with customers trying to find out what was going on and requesting that the access be restored at the earliest, while the operators had no real answer to those queries further amounting to consumer outcry and dissatisfaction, stated the letter.
It letter further added, “In today’s world, digital connectivity and access are a vital lifeline and when severed, the lives of people are severely and adversely impacted, businesses are undermined, and national productivity and the country’s image are compromised and tarnished.”
The Association strongly urged the PTA to look into the events of last night and ensure that such disruptions don’t transpire in the future. It also urged the regulator to issue a detailed clarification statement on what transpired and how it plans to prevent it from reoccurring in the future.
PTA is afraid of PTI, simple.
Pakistan ki hamarii kuttttiii or randii faujjj bhenchodd ISI kayy kuttayyy. Salay randii asim muneerr bharwaaaaaa. Dgisi ki maaa ko chodonnnñ. Bhenchoddd randii madhrchoddddd faujjj kay dallaaayyy.
How funny.How will PTA confess that on the hidden hands’ internet services were linked down to disturb PTI’s fundraising telethon like the same PTA has been done during PTI’s virtual procession?
Bahadurs are darpouk.
why PTA chairman is ex army men!?
Kahan nahi hain?
Aap shaid chamd pe rehtay hain, pooray mulk me social site open nahi ho rahi thee aur internet speed ka issue bhi tha.
A 2 ⭐⭐ Retired ( کھسی یعنی نامرد) Major General Inter Pass , how can run the affairs of INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.
کوا چلا ہنس کی چال تو اپنی بھی بھول گیا
یہ وھی ھیں جن لوگوں نے مشرقی پاکستان گنوایا اور 90000 فوجیوں نے ھتھیار ڈالے تھے 16 دسمبر 1971 کو پلے کتے 🐶🐕
PTA has nothing to do with this. They might not know what happened or how it was happened.
Answer should be with MoIT or ISI.
PTA was real factor behind Telecom operators exit. They are responsible.
Dunya bhar me esa koi idara nai he jo awam k khon se chal raha ho. PTA ka najaiz raviya is bat ka saboot he k Pakistani awam ko khushal zindagi se mehroom rakhna.
Mera chief justice of Pakistan se guzarish he k PTA ka ehtisab kia jae or is ko band kia jae. Ta k is mehngai k dor me kuch to awam ko sokh ka sans naseeb ho. Meri sab pakistanio se bhi guzarish he k PTA k khilaf awaz uthae.