The internet disruptions issues would be resolved in the first half of the next year, a government official told the National Assembly on Monday as freelancers and people complain about connectivity issues after the February 8 elections.

“The situation will be much better before April,” Sajid Mehdi, the parliamentary secretary for Cabinet Division, said on the floor of the House in response to a calling attention notice.

Pakistan has a record of curbing online access in response to political turmoil, banning social media sites, or simply temporarily shutting down the internet altogether.

Local reports have claimed that the South Asian country has been installing the second phase of a firewall, leading to connectivity issues. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has asked users to register virtual private networks (VPNs) amid the “use” of such technology by terrorists.

According to international data, Pakistan’s internet infrastructure has fallen significantly short of global leaders. Its average download speed places it around 100th globally (20.61 Mbps), and 141st in broadband download speeds (15.6 Mbps).

The parliamentary secretary faced technical difficulties with his microphone during the session. He acknowledged the validity of the notice raised by the lawmakers regarding the issue of slow internet speeds.

“We do not have the necessary technology,” Mehdi said, “Pakistan faces significant security threats, which necessitate adopting specific strategies.”

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[Internet services still affected in various cities (https://english.aaj.tv/news/330392340/internet-services-still-affected-in-various-cities)

Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan stated the importance of the attention notice regarding slow internet speeds. “The internet speed has decreased due to direct interference from intelligence agencies.”

The opposition leader accused such agencies of intervening in the affairs of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority. He alleged that the internet was shut down to eliminate social media platforms.