Pakistan’s ongoing internet crisis has reached Parliament, where lawmakers expressed anger over slow speeds and frequent disruptions affecting both citizens and government institutions. During the question hour in the National Assembly, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) legislator Sharmila Faruqi voiced frustration, saying the internet situation has deteriorated to the point that even Parliament struggles with stable connections.
Faruqi criticized the authorities for claiming that “everything is fine,” while real-world conditions tell a different story. She said if the capital’s connectivity is this poor, the situation in rural regions must be even worse. The lawmaker added that telecom companies were reducing operations or leaving Pakistan due to economic uncertainty and weak government support.
Responding to her remarks, Parliamentary Secretary for IT and Telecommunication Sabeen Ghauri admitted that the government faces serious challenges in improving digital infrastructure. She said it was understandable for citizens to feel frustrated but called some of the parliamentary criticism “inappropriate.” Ghauri explained that limited resources and security-related restrictions continue to slow progress.
She assured the House that the current connectivity issues would take six to eight months to resolve. Ghauri highlighted that several large-scale projects are already under way, including the Islamabad IT Park, which is expected to open by February and create around 7,000 jobs. The Karachi IT Park, she added, is on track for completion by the end of 2027, and will further strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure and employment base.
Discussing Pakistan’s long-delayed 5G rollout, Ghauri confirmed that the government plans to hold the 5G spectrum auction in the first quarter of 2026. She said recent marine cable disruptions had been resolved, though lingering connectivity problems in Balochistan stem from security restrictions under the Interior Ministry, not her own department.
The secretary also explained that slow speeds in many areas result from a mix of undersea cable capacity limits, security protocols, and temporary service suspensions ordered for safety reasons. She clarified that internet shutdowns are authorized by the Ministry of Interior, not the Ministry of IT, and that her ministry’s goal remains to expand safe and consistent access nationwide.
Analysts note that Pakistan’s digital sector has faced repeated setbacks, including infrastructure gaps and rising operational costs. Yet projects like the new IT parks and the planned 5G launch signal that progress, though slow, is moving forward.
Reports by BBC, Dawn, and Wikipedia confirm that Pakistan’s connectivity growth lags behind regional peers but still holds vast potential.
In my view, the parliamentary debate reflects growing public impatience with unreliable connectivity. While long-term infrastructure takes time to build, citizens expect clear timelines and visible improvement. Reliable internet is no longer a luxury — it’s a basic necessity for education, business, and governance in a digital era.
Published by: Business & Tech Desk | The Hub of Info
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