Internet services in Pakistan have been disrupted for nearly a week, causing a slow speed connection and issues with apps like WhatsApp, Facebook, and Fiverr. Users, who are also dealing with a ban on X (formerly Twitter), are turning to Virtual Private Networks (VPN) to use the app. Fiverr has warned clients that Pakistani freelancers might experience delays due to internet problems and changing their locations due to VPNs.
Fiverr also flagged Pakistan freelancers as ‘unavailable’, making it difficult for them to get new orders.
A social media user shared an email from Fiverr stating, “We understand that there may be Internet disruption in your area that might make it harder to keep your routine going. To ensure any unexpected order delays won’t hurt your ratings, we’re temporarily setting your availability status and Gig(s) as unavailable.” It further mentioned that this action will not negatively impact the ratings of any service provider.
Social media users who are already dealing with serious problems shared many posts about their worries over internet disruptions. They criticised the government’s decision and requested Fiverr to remove the limitations.
A user asked Fiver’s staff team, Lena, “Is it true that Fiverr has made Pakistani freelancers unavailable amid internet disruptions? To which she replied, yes, here you can check.
What is the economic impact of this internet shutdown?
The impact of internet disruptions can be severe. In May 2023, Pakistan experienced a major internet outage that caused significant financial losses. The telecom industry lost around PKR 2.46 billion in just 72 hours, and the IT sector suffered damages of about PKR 10 billion. These disruptions show how important it is to have a reliable internet infrastructure.
