Pakistan Faces Internet Woes Amid Telecom Neglect, Says IT Minister
ISLAMABAD: In a candid admission on the floor of the National Assembly, Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, revealed on Friday that no investment has been made in Pakistan’s telecom infrastructure over the past three years. The minister attributed the stagnation to the financial turmoil inherited from the previous government, which left the country on the brink of economic collapse.
Internet and VPNs Functional, Says IT Minister
During the Question Hour, the minister addressed concerns raised by PPP lawmaker Shazia Marri regarding sluggish internet speeds and the suspension of VPNs, which have disrupted access to apps like WhatsApp. Khawaja assured the house that internet services, including VPNs and WhatsApp, were fully operational. She urged Ms. Marri to provide specific examples of malfunctioning VPNs or industries facing issues, emphasizing that industries relying on fixed-line connections had not reported significant problems.
Blame on the Previous Government
Responding to criticism, the minister laid the blame for the telecom sector’s lack of growth squarely on the previous PTI government. She stated that the country’s inability to import critical telecom equipment due to frozen letters of credit and fears of default had severely hindered infrastructure development.
“Telecom infrastructure is entirely import-based. When the PTI government left in 2022, no one was willing to open letters of credit due to the looming threat of default,” Khawaja explained.
She also noted the absence of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the sector over the same period.
Hopes for Economic Recovery and FDI
Highlighting recent improvements in Pakistan’s macroeconomic indicators, Khawaja expressed optimism that stable currency rates, lower inflation, and reduced interest rates would attract foreign investment. “With these positive changes, we expect FDI to flow into the telecom sector, enabling us to improve internet availability and infrastructure,” she said.
Progress and Challenges in Connectivity
The minister outlined several developments to improve connectivity. Pakistan currently has seven submarine cables, although one has reached the end of its lifespan. The Africa-2 cable has landed in the country and is expected to become operational within months, boosting internet capacity. Additionally, the Pakistan-China optic-fiber cable has been operationalized, and plans are underway to connect submarine cables to Central Asian states via the Wakhan corridor.
Despite these advancements, Khawaja acknowledged congestion in internet services, citing a lack of investment, limited spectrum, and submarine cable capacity constraints.
IT Export Growth
Khawaja also pointed to a 28% increase in Pakistan’s IT services export remittances, which reached $1.86 billion in the first half of the current financial year. This, she claimed, demonstrated improvements in internet speed and usage.
Opposition Protest Halts Proceedings
Meanwhile, the National Assembly session was marred by persistent protests from PTI members for the fifth consecutive day. Opposition lawmakers disrupted proceedings by raising slogans, thumping desks, and pointing out a lack of quorum. Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, visibly frustrated, adjourned the session until Monday evening after failing to complete even the Question Hour.
The ongoing political turmoil, coupled with the challenges in the telecom sector, underscores the urgent need for sustained investment and policy reforms to address Pakistan’s digital infrastructure woes.