The Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) has warned that the economy might suffer losses of up to $300 million due to internet disruptions linked to a new national firewall. Reports indicate that Islamabad is rolling out this firewall to monitor and regulate online content and social media platforms. However, the government insists it’s not intended for censorship.
Ali Ihsan, senior vice chairman of P@SHA, voiced concerns about the firewall’s impact, citing ongoing internet disconnections and inconsistent VPN performance as potential threats to business operations. He described these disruptions as more than just inconveniences, calling them a serious and direct threat to the industry’s stability, with financial losses possibly reaching $300 million and even more over time.
Despite these concerns, Pakistan’s telecommunications authority and Minister of State for Information Technology, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, have yet to respond. Earlier, Khawaja assured local media that the government does not plan to use firewalls for censorship purposes.
Pakistan has previously restricted access to the social media platform X since the February elections, where Imran Khan, despite being jailed, led his party to win the most seats. The government justified the blocking as a measure to prevent anti-state activities, citing non-compliance by X with local laws. Conversely, rights activists argue that the ban is a move to suppress critical voices and limit democratic accountability.
P@SHA’s statement highlighted a growing mistrust among internet users and international IT clients concerning data security and privacy. The association called for an immediate stop to what it termed a “digital siege” and urged the government to collaborate with the industry in developing a robust cybersecurity framework.
In June, Pakistan’s IT exports hit $298 million, a 33% increase from the previous year. For the fiscal year ending in June, IT exports totaled $3.2 billion, marking a 24% rise from $2.5 billion in fiscal 2023.
