Minister of State for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja on Sunday that the government has not throttled the internet at any level.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Sunday, Khawaja claimed that the government had neither shut down the internet nor slowed it down.

She went on to claim that a majority of the consumers in the country were using VPNs to access some functions of social media sites, especially downloading. She added that the VPN use was putting ‘pressure’ on the internet causing it to slow down as a whole.

The minister also said that the disruption to internet service was ‘natural’ and had occurred for only one or two days.

Khawaja said that she had requested the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to ensure that ordinary users do not face difficulties in accessing the internet.

The minister announced the formation of a National Digitalization Commission to accelerate Pakistan’s economic growth, aligning with the priorities set by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC). Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will head the commission.

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Khawaja highlighted the government’s commitment to advancing the IT sector. She noted that Pakistan witnessed record IT exports this year and that investments are increasing under the SIFC framework. Prime Minister Sharif has emphasized digitalization since assuming office.

She stated that the newly established commission, headed by the Prime Minister, will prioritize the IT sector, reflecting its importance in economic recovery. This marks the first time in Pakistan’s history that IT exports have reached such a high level.

The commission’s formation, approved by the Ministry of Law, is expected to be finalized soon. The SIFC has identified key priorities for economic revival, with IT being a central focus to attract greater investment.

Khawaja further emphasized the government’s commitment to digital literacy, stating that over 4 billion rupees were allocated in the previous budget for IT training and employment opportunities for children. Over 300,000 children will receive training from Huawei, with ongoing discussions with Google, Microsoft, and Meta for further certifications and skill development.

This includes plans to provide coding skills to over 10,000 children and the development of two IT parks, one in Islamabad and one in Karachi. The Islamabad IT park is expected to generate over 10,000 job opportunities.