KARACHI – Millions of users across Pakistan faced severe Internet disruptions this week as major social platforms like Snapchat, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) slowed down or stopped working. The outage coincided with a global failure of Amazon Web Services (AWS), affecting connectivity worldwide.
In Pakistan, users reported that Internet speeds dropped sharply across multiple service providers, particularly in Karachi. Many linked the issue to yet another mysterious undersea cable fault, a recurring problem that often disrupts the country’s digital connectivity.
Despite widespread complaints, no official statement was issued by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the Ministry of IT, or Internet service providers. However, when approached for clarification, Minister of IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja suggested that the disruption was partly related to the global AWS failure.
Several Internet users, however, claimed that their providers had notified them about a “cable fault.” Tech experts pointed to a major disruption in the Pakistan-Asia-Cable (PAC) system. “There is a cut in the main cable system,” said a digital expert on X. “Teams are testing to locate the exact point of failure.”
The PAC cable, which originates in China and connects to Pakistan through the Morsi Shah gateway in Karachi’s Defence area, has a massive capacity of 600 Gbps. The city serves as a crucial hub for the country’s overall Internet infrastructure.
PTA confirmed that other submarine cable systems are managed by PTCL and Transworld Associates. PTCL operates three key international cables — AAE-1, SMW-4, and IMEWE — connecting Pakistan to Asia, Europe, and the Middle East through landing stations at Clifton and Hawks Bay.
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As repair teams work to restore connectivity, millions of Internet users continue to experience slow or unstable connections. The recurring outages have reignited concerns about the reliability of Pakistan’s digital infrastructure and its dependence on fragile undersea networks.
