The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology has taken notice of the slow internet speeds and social media app performance in the country, demanding a resolution within two weeks.
Senator Afnanullah revealed that the slow internet has caused a loss of at least 500 million rupees, with many e-commerce platforms leaving the country.
During a meeting chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan, committee members raised concerns about the slow internet and social media app outages.
Senator Humayun Mehmand highlighted the impact on businesses due to the slow internet and social media app performance.
Senator Afnanullah further elaborated, stating that the slow internet has resulted in a loss of at least Rs500 million. He pointed out that media downloads and uploads on WhatsApp are not functioning, and many e-commerce platforms are leaving the country.
Senator Humayun expressed his concern, stating, “You have destroyed people’s livelihoods. There is already a lack of investment, and this will completely ruin businesses.”
The Secretary of the Ministry of IT explained that the issue lies with the networks, not Wi-Fi. Officials from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) claimed they have not received any complaints regarding internet services.
The Secretary of IT attributed the issue to disruptions in mobile operator services, suggesting a technical problem that will be resolved soon.
The committee demanded a report on the losses incurred due to the slow internet and social media app performance, instructing the relevant authorities to resolve the issue within two weeks.
Meanwhile, the committee postponed the agenda item related to the firewall.
The meeting also discussed the Personal Data Protection Bill. Senator Palwasha Khan stated that the committee will approve the bill in the next meeting.
