PTA Chairman faces tough questioning from NA members over widespread complaints about internet slowdowns across the country

ISLAMABAD, August 21 (SABAH): The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Wednesday attributed the nationwide slow internet to a “faulty submarine cable” and clarified that no firewalls were being installed, after drawing criticism from both lawmakers and the public.

During a meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on IT on Wednesday chaired by Syed Aminul Haq, PTA Chairman Major General (retd) Hafeezur Rehman faced tough questioning from National Assembly members over widespread complaints about internet slowdowns across the country.

“The internet slowdown in the country is due to a faulty submarine cable, which is expected to be repaired by August 28,” Hafezur Rehman said. He also clarified that it was the government’s web management system — and not a firewall — which was being upgraded.

“In my opinion, the internet should not slow down due to an upgrade,” he said. “The telecom [sector] has suffered a loss of [Rs] 300 million.”

During the meeting, several MNAs grilled the PTA chief, expressing frustration over ongoing internet issues. They questioned why TikTok was sometimes shut down, the internet was often slow, and firewalls were intermittently imposed, demanding clarification on the situation.

“You have been asked a direct question,” PPP MNA Sharmila Farooqi said to the PTA chief. “Has a firewall been installed or not?”

Hafeezur Rehman responded by saying the PTA had no role in the internet slowdown and attributed it to technical issues. “Every country, including Afghanistan, has its own system,” he quipped.

MQM’s MNA Syed Mustafa Kamal highlighted that companies have been instructed not to conduct business in Pakistan owing to internet issues.

“From your briefing, it seems like there is no issue in Pakistan,” he said to the PTA chief. “So is it really the case that all is well in the country despite all the hue and cry?”

PTI Chairman and MNA Barrister Gohar Ali Khan questioned the prolonged ban on social media platform X, asking for reasons behind its extended suspension and demanding to know when the ban would be lifted.

In response, the PTA chairman admitted that he had no more information on the matter than the committee members did.

The committee voiced their opposition to the ban, arguing that such restrictions hinder the country’s progress. They also requested a briefing on Islamabad and Karachi IT parks.

The PTA chairman noted that he hoped the ongoing internet issues would be resolved by August 27, adding that VPNs were not being blocked in the country, nor can they be.

“I never stated that VPNs were being restricted,” he said. “The country would experience slow internet for another six days.”

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Committee, Syed Aminul Haq, urged the government to ensure that 5G services were available in Pakistan by March.

He expressed frustration that despite significant efforts towards the 5G auction, Pakistan still lacked the technology, while other countries were advancing towards 6G.

“If 5G cannot be introduced by December, it must be done by March to meet public expectations,” he said.

Syed Aminul Haq inquired the PTA chairman about the reasons behind internet disruptions. “The public should be informed why internet service is affected. It should be informed whether a firewall is installed or not?” the lawmaker asked, adding that the PTA should communicate the matter with the media so that the public is informed.

Responding to the query, Major General (retd) Hafeezur Rehman referred to IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja’s remarks saying that the reasons behind the prevailing issue were duly addressed in the minister’s presser and remarked that the use of VPNs led to the internet being down.

Elaborating on the firewall issue, the PTA chief said that the previous web management system (WMS) was renamed and replaced with the firewall technology after its approval in 2019.

“The [internet] firewall system was approved in March 2019,” he said adding that the upgradation of the system had started the same year.

When grilled by National Assembly Opposition Leader Omar Ayub Khan regarding firewall installation, the PTA chairman said: “This system was introduced during your regime.”

Separately, speaking with journalists outside the NA, PTA chief maintained that the firewall — which he termed “web management system” — is aimed at controlling grey traffic.

“There’s no mention of the word ‘firewall’. It has been created by you [media]. Who said it’s a firewall, it’s [actually] web management system,” he said.

Furthermore, the PTA head remarked: “How can you eliminate propaganda from the firewall? Memes are being shared on social media against judges and prime minister. If the issue could be managed in this way then we would’ve closed it.”

Commenting on privacy concerns regarding firewall, Major General (retd) Hafeezur Rehman told the NA committee that social media platforms were end-to-end encrypted and there was no technology to access encrypted information.

Speaking on the government’s decision to whitelist virtual private networks (VPNs), the PTA chief said VPNs were not being banned or shutdown but in fact the companies have only been asked to register themselves.

“VPNs are not blocked in the world [as] it affects businesses,” he noted.

When asked by committee members about the economic impact of the disruption, Chairman PTA claimed that the telecom sector didn’t suffer much.

Addressing the IT ministry, the NA panel has also sought the report on both the economic repercussions of the internet disruptions as well as the technicalities of the firewall in the next meeting.