The Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) has decried the government’s lack of consultation on the persistent internet disruptions affecting the country.

According to P@SHA Senior Vice Chairman Ali Ihsan, the association wants to work with the government to address the issue, but feels they have been “thrown out of the loop” without any explanation.

The internet disruptions, which have been attributed to increased security measures and the installation of a new internet firewall, have had a significant impact on businesses and communications across Pakistan.

P@SHA estimates the economic loss from the disruptions to be around $300 million, with businesses, including major IT companies and healthcare providers, reporting significant losses and disruptions to their operations.

The association claims that if consulted, they could have advised the government on how to mitigate the impact on businesses, particularly by “whitelisting” IT companies and avoiding subjecting them to the new internet firewall.

Tufail Ahmed Khan, the CEO of the Pakistan Freelancers Association (PAFLA), also expressed concern over the issue, stating that over 2.3 million freelancers in the country have been facing difficulties in delivering their work on time to clients due to the internet slowdowns and disruptions.

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The government, however, has denied responsibility for the internet issues, attributing them to the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) by citizens. The IT minister has claimed that the government has not blocked or slowed down the internet.

P@SHA has urged the government to address the internet issue and work closely with the industry to find solutions that minimize the impact on businesses and the country’s economy.