The suspension of mobile data services in Pakistan is expected to result in a daily loss of $3-4 million to the country’s IT exports.
The Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) has called on the government to restore mobile broadband services, which have been suspended since Tuesday due to the political turmoil that erupted after the arrest of the PTI party’s chairman, Imran Khan.
The government has blocked 3G/4G mobile broadband services and major social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook, as well as slowing down YouTube services to control the spread of “unwanted information” that could cause disinformation and panic among the masses.
According to The News, Muhammad Zohaib Khan, the Chairman of P@SHA, warned that the suspension of mobile broadband services could result in significant losses for the IT industry, which relies heavily on internet connectivity.
The IT industry has come to a standstill since Tuesday evening, and professionals are working from home due to the precarious law and order situation in the entire country. Zohaib urged the government to resume internet services to the IT industry immediately, saying that the sudden blockade of broadband services has completely halted IT operations, and the IT industry is already facing pressure due to poor governmental policies.
Zohaib requested Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to intervene directly and asked for the support of the Ministry of IT and Telecom, Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), and Tech Destination Pakistan administrations to request the premier to issue categorical instructions.
The suspension of mobile broadband services has also affected individuals who rely on digital apps for commuting or ordering/delivering food and other products. However, an official stated that it is difficult to calculate the losses at this stage.
