On Sunday, Minister of State for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja dismissed claims that the government was responsible for recent internet slowdowns. She attributed the issues, which lasted “for one or two days,” to the excessive use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), which increased pressure on internet infrastructure.
Khawaja reassured the public that the government was not throttling the internet and was instead working to address cybersecurity threats through an upgrade to the web management system.
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She emphasized that the slowdown was due to the surge in VPN usage, which affects internet performance.
Concerns had been raised about a potential government firewall causing disruptions, with some estimating a 40% reduction in connectivity and a potential $300 million impact on the IT sector.
Khawaja described these allegations as false and asserted that efforts were being made to prevent further internet issues.
She also highlighted ongoing IT initiatives, including efforts to digitize federal government processes, boost IT sector investment, and create employment opportunities through projects like the ‘Bridge Start’ program and the establishment of e-employment centers.
