Minister of State for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima on Sunday blamed the increased use of virtual private networks (VPNs) for the prevalent internet slowdown in the country.
During a press conference today, she tried to assure that the federal government has not deliberately shut down or slowed the internet and placed the full blame on VPNs. She said excessive VPN usage can slow connections by routing data through remote servers.
The minister didn’t particularly try to address any updates about the new national firewall for controlling social media.
She discussed the progress in Pakistan’s IT sector under her tenure so far, including the highest IT exports in the country’s history, for which she credited the youth.
The minister announced several initiatives, including the establishment of two new IT parks in Islamabad and Karachi, the creation of 250 e-employment centers nationwide, and the launch of programs for teaching coding skills in five languages from the primary level. She said there’s a plan to introduce 5G technology to everyone across the country, expand internet infrastructure with four new cables, and develop a virtual production studio.
The minister also noted the government’s efforts in digitalizing national databases like the National Database Regulatory Authority (NADRA) and implementing QR codes at over one million locations across Pakistan to simplify payment processes and improve tax collection. Shaza was optimistic about the future and targeted digital innovations to bring widespread benefits to the economy and the lives of all citizens.