Amid ongoing political unrest, Pakistan’s government has increasingly resorted to severe internet censorship measures, alarming experts and citizens alike who warn that this could severely hinder the country’s future prospects.
Since February, social media platform X has been inaccessible, internet outages have become more frequent and intense, and the government is planning to ban tools that help users circumvent censorship. “The censorship and surveillance we are witnessing in Pakistan is unprecedented and very sophisticated,” said Usama Khilji, a digital rights activist in Pakistan. “It’s creating frustration within society,” he added.
Mobile internet disruptions have been a regular occurrence during protests led by Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party since his ousting in 2022, but nationwide internet shutdowns, particularly at home, are an unusual development. The Interior Ministry justified these measures in the capital, stating that they were enforced “only in areas with security concerns.” Shahzad Arshad, head of the Wireless and Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan, explained that the move was a response to some residents offering their Wi-Fi access to demonstrators during previous protests. However, the impact has been severe for many, such as Muhammad Fahim Khan, an assistant professor, who experienced a “double lockdown”—unable to attend his university in person or teach remotely. “Ongoing projects come to a halt due to internet outages,” the 37-year-old said. “Productivity and the quality of life have been quite ruined.”
Pakistan, teetering on the brink of economic collapse last year, was saved from default only through foreign bailouts. The new government has hailed technology as a potential key driver for economic recovery. However, students and bloggers like Khadija Rizvi have expressed frustration, saying that the ongoing internet cuts have dashed any hope of progress. “The persistent internet outages have rendered it impossible to make any meaningful progress,” said the 25-year-old. “This internet shutdown feels like a complete waste of valuable time and potential.”
The effects of these internet restrictions have also been felt by thousands of food delivery drivers reliant on online platforms for their livelihoods. During the capital’s protests, many drivers were left without work. While Islamabad has a population of just one million, the ongoing internet slowdown has affected the remaining 240 million citizens since August, worsening the daily challenges for many Pakistanis.
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