Minister of State for IT Denies Government Slowed Down Internet

Minister of State for Information Technology, Shaza Fatima, has denied claims that the government intentionally slowed down or shut off the internet in Pakistan. During a press conference in Islamabad, she clarified that while some applications faced download issues, many citizens resorted to using VPNs, which increased internet traffic and led to slower speeds. To enhance internet quality, four new cables are being introduced, and once they are operational, the country will experience improved connectivity. She also mentioned that the 5G spectrum auction is on the horizon.

Shaza Fatima highlighted the IT sector’s growth despite economic challenges, announcing a budget of PKR 60 billion for IT demand fulfillment. Two IT parks are being established in Islamabad and Karachi, with the Islamabad park expected to create over 10,000 jobs. Additionally, the government has allocated over PKR 4 billion for children’s IT training, and partnerships with companies like Meta are underway to provide coding skills to young Pakistanis. Pakistan has also participated in Meta’s global AI competition for the first time.