ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s State Minister for Information Technology (IT) Shaza Fatima pinned massive usage of Virtual Private Network as cause behind the internet slowdown in the country of over 240 million.
In a press conference on Sunday, IT Minister tried downplaying the issue of internet slowdown that frustrated millions, as it also sparked concerns about the installation of digital firewall.
Minister made these remarks amid complaints about slow internet and stressed the importance of high-speed connectivity for the digital economy.
She noted that while firewalls are a standard security measure, they shouldn’t cause slowdowns. The ministry also asked the PTA to provide recent data on internet speeds to identify any issues.
Shaza said majority of the country’s population is using VPNs to access specific functions on social media platforms, particularly for downloading content. She highlighted that this widespread VPN use is causing increased ‘pressure’ on the internet, leading to a general slowdown.
The minister mentioned that she had urged the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to take steps to minimize difficulties for regular users trying to access the internet.
Furthermore, she announced the creation of a National Digitalization Commission, aimed at accelerating Pakistan’s economic development in alignment with the priorities of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC).
