IT Minister Attributes Slow Internet in Pakistan to Widespread Use of VPNs

 

Minister of State for IT and Telecom, Shazia Fatima, attributed the widespread internet slowdown in Pakistan to the increased use of virtual private networks (VPNs) during a press conference on Sunday.

She reassured that the federal government has not intentionally slowed down or shut off the internet, placing the responsibility for the sluggish connections on excessive VPN usage, which she explained can cause slowdowns by routing data through remote servers.

The minister did not address the new national firewall aimed at controlling social media. 

She highlighted the progress made in Pakistan’s IT sector under her leadership, including achieving the highest IT exports in the country's history, which she credited to the youth. 

Shaza Fatima also announced several new initiatives, such as the establishment of two IT parks in Islamabad and Karachi, the creation of 250 e-employment centers nationwide, and the launch of coding programs in five languages starting from the primary school level. She further shared plans to introduce 5G technology nationwide, expand internet infrastructure with four new cables, and develop a virtual production studio.

Additionally, the minister mentioned the government’s efforts to digitalize national databases like NADRA and implement QR codes at over one million locations across Pakistan to streamline payment processes and enhance tax collection. Shaza expressed optimism about the future, emphasizing that digital innovations will bring significant benefits to the economy and improve the lives of all citizens.