Minister of State for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja addressed the press on Sunday, firmly rejecting allegations that the government has engaged in throttling the internet. Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Khawaja asserted that there had been no shutdown or intentional slowing down of internet services by the government.
Khawaja explained that while some users have reported slower internet speeds, this is largely due to the widespread use of VPNs to access various social media functions, particularly for downloading. She indicated that this heavy VPN usage is placing an overall ‘pressure’ on the internet, contributing to slower speeds.
The minister acknowledged that there had been brief disruptions in service, describing these as ‘natural’ and lasting only one or two days. She assured the public that she has instructed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to mitigate any issues and ensure smooth internet access for ordinary users.
In a significant development, Khawaja announced the formation of a National Digitalization Commission, which will be led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The commission aims to drive Pakistan’s economic growth by enhancing the IT sector and aligning with the goals of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC). This move reflects the government’s commitment to advancing digital infrastructure and boosting IT exports, which have hit record levels this year.
The newly formed commission, pending final approval from the Ministry of Law, is set to focus on key IT priorities identified by the SIFC. The initiative will support economic revival by attracting greater investment and fostering digital innovation.
Khawaja also highlighted the government’s dedication to digital literacy, revealing that over 4 billion rupees were allocated in the previous budget for IT training and employment initiatives for children. The program will benefit more than 300,000 children through training provided by Huawei, with ongoing partnerships with Google, Microsoft, and Meta for further skill development.
Additionally, plans are underway to offer coding skills to over 10,000 children and establish two IT parks—one in Islamabad and another in Karachi. The Islamabad IT park is anticipated to create over 10,000 job opportunities.
This comprehensive approach underscores the government’s focus on leveraging IT to drive economic growth and ensure that Pakistan remains at the forefront of technological advancement.
