The suspension of services by social media giant X, formerly Twitter, in Pakistan has entered its eighth day without any explanation from the authorities. Thousands of Pakistanis rely on the platform for disseminating information, but they have been unable to access it since the disruption began last Saturday.
Despite attempts by media outlets to reach out to relevant authorities such as the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and government ministers, no official comments have been made regarding the outage. VPN services have also reportedly been restricted, exacerbating difficulties for users trying to access the platform.
Also Read: Pakistanis Struggle with X Access for 144 Hours
Nighat Dad, the executive director of the Digital Rights Foundation (DRF), expressed concerns about the impact of the outage on the country’s image and criticized the lack of transparency from the PTA regarding such disruptions. She highlighted the importance of platforms like X for enabling freedom of speech and access to information, particularly during times of elections or conflict.
The outage sends a negative message to potential investors and international organizations interested in Pakistan’s IT sector, potentially hindering investment opportunities. Pakistan already faces challenges with internet availability compared to its peers, and intermittent disruptions to social media platforms further exacerbate these issues.
Digital rights activists have criticized the authorities for violating constitutionally guaranteed rights, including freedom of information, speech, and association. Despite a court order from the Sindh High Court directing the PTA to fully restore X’s services and seeking a detailed response from the authority, accessibility to the platform has not yet been restored.
