Slow Internet in Pakistan Linked to Increased VPN Usage, Says IT Minister
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Minister of State for Information Technology, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, clarified the reason. The ongoing slow internet speeds in Pakistan are due to this reason. She explained the reasons for the issue. The slow speeds in Pakistan are not due to government interference. Internet speeds in Pakistan are slow for other reasons.
In a press conference held today in Islamabad, Minister Khawaja explained that the internet has not been blocked. It has also not been deliberately slowed down. The increased reliance on VPNs is causing a slowdown in internet speeds across the country. This situation worsened after certain apps and services were restricted.
“People have turned to VPNs to bypass local restrictions. This has overloaded our networks. It has slowed down internet services, including mobile internet,” Khawaja stated. She emphasized that the government is actively working to discuss these issues and improve the overall internet experience in Pakistan.
Additionally, Minister Khawaja announced the establishment of a Digitization Commission aimed at accelerating the digitization of the economy. She also highlighted the recent positive trend in IT exports. She attributed it to measures introduced by the Special Investment Facilitation Council.
In response to rumors circulating about intentional internet slowdowns, Khawaja firmly denied any such actions by the government. She reiterated that the internet disruptions are purely due to an overload of internet traffic caused by increased VPN usage.
This development next reports that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is considering new regulations on VPN usage nationwide. The move comes after a significant surge in VPN usage in 2024. This surge occurred particularly next to the blocking of the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
A report by Top10VPN revealed that the demand for VPNs in Pakistan spiked by 131% on February 19. This was just two days after X was blocked. VPN provider Surfshark also noted a 300-400% increase in new user sign-ups in the country next to the ban.
As the government continues to discuss these challenges, the focus remains on balancing internet freedom with security. The government also ensures that all Pakistanis have access to a reliable and fast internet connection.