Minister of State for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja finally broke silence on internet issue in Pakistan. She has made it clear that the government has nothing to do with internet shut down or slowed down in Pakistan.
“Recent disruptions in internet speed are largely due to the excessive use of VPNs [Virtual Private Networks] as it affects the overall connectivity.”
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Sunday, she announced that four new internet cables will be laid to improve internet speed across the country. Expressing confidence that these efforts would lead to significant improvements in internet quality, she ensured users face fewer difficulties in the coming days.
The Minister emphasized the government’s commitment to improving the IT sector, saying Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) kept it on top priority.
“The government is establishing a new Digitization Commission under the prime minister’s direct supervision.”
Ms Khawaja announced that the government will provide coding skill training to 10,000 youth, an effort to build a tech-savvy future generation. These coding skills, she claimed, will remain relevant for years to come.
She also revealed that the government has allocated over PKR 60 billion for the IT sector, setting aside Rs4 billion specifically for training.
To bolster this initiative, she said, the government is in talks with global tech giants such as Google, Meta, and Microsoft to collaborate on IT education programs. “The process of introducing coding skills at the primary school level is set to begin soon.”
Expansion of gaming industry and digital transformation
The Minister has also highlighted efforts to promote Pakistan’s gaming industry. She said the government is developing a comprehensive ecosystem to foster its growth. Besides it, she mentioned ongoing collaboration with the World Bank on digital transformation initiatives, aiming to provide every citizen with a digital identity.
She urged the public to adopt digital transactions to streamline tax collection and enhance the economy.
Acknowledging the public’s frustration over internet disruptions, she admitted people face difficulties in downloading some apps. It is due to VPN excessive use, she claimed.
However, she clarified that the government did not impose any official shutdown or slowdown on the internet. Instead, she pointed out that using VPNs in large numbers can slow down devices and impact the overall internet speed.
She also confirmed that Pakistan is on track to introduce the 5G spectrum by 2025, ensuring high-speed internet services.
The government is not engaging in any monitoring activities and efforts are underway to combat online harassment.
“Our goal is to provide a safe and secure internet experience for all Pakistanis,” she added.
