ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announced on Monday that access to social media sites has been restored in the country.
Facebook and YouTube were being restored gradually, while Twitter services were already available in some areas.
According to the PTA spokesperson, social media services have been restored across Pakistan based on government instructions. The internet service had already been restored, and the PTA urged people to report any problems in their respective areas.
Suspension of social media services following protests across Pakistan
The suspension of social media services was ordered by the interior ministry following protests that erupted across Pakistan after the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad. Amnesty International criticized the suspension as a violation of freedom of expression.
During the suspension, voice calls and SMS messages were still accessible, but the disruption caused a loss of economic productivity and affected digital services, including digital payments. The All Pakistan Software Export Association estimated that the IT industry incurred a loss of Rs10 billion during the suspension.
Internet services began to resume across Pakistan on May 12, but experienced another temporary disruption the following day. With the restoration of mobile broadband internet, services like Uber, Bykea, and Foodpanda have resumed operations.
However, users have expressed concerns about the lack of access to social media platforms. Many have resorted to using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to bypass the restrictions. VPNs create a secure connection between a computing device and a computer network and are typically provided by companies in Western countries.
As a result of VPN usage, a large number of Pakistani users are now able to view different hashtags appearing from Western countries on their social media feeds.
With the restoration of social media services, individuals and businesses in Pakistan can once again engage with their online communities and resume normal digital activities. The move aims to balance the need for security and stability with the importance of freedom of expression and connectivity in the digital age.
