Government Responds to Allegations of Deliberate Internet Slowdown in Pakistan

The federal government has clarified that no system has been deployed to shut down or throttle internet traffic in Pakistan, while confirming the use of a Web Monitoring System (WMS) to block objectionable online content, including X (formerly Twitter). The Minister-in-Charge of the Cabinet Division provided this clarification in a written reply to the National Assembly of Pakistan.

The reply noted that the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication issued a policy directive under Section 8 of the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-Organization) Act, 1996, through a notification dated December 26, 2009. This directive sets out procedures for the closure of telecom services only under national security concerns. The Ministry of Interior receives requests for service closure and instructs the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to implement them through licensed telecom operators.

The Web Monitoring System has been deployed jointly by telecom operators, including PTCL, Transworld Associates, mobile operators, and international operators, in compliance with their license requirements. The system is privately procured and funded entirely by operators, without public funds. It is primarily used to control grey traffic and block unlawful or objectionable content online. The government emphasized that the PTA has not installed any system to throttle or shut down internet services.

The WMS has been operational in various forms since 2008 and is periodically upgraded to monitor internet bandwidth effectively. Under Section 37(1) of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, the PTA is legally authorized to remove or block unlawful content for reasons including national security, public order, decency, morality, and contempt of court. The Removal and Blocking of Unlawful Online Content Rules, 2021, provide procedural safeguards, compliance timelines, confidentiality protections, and judicial oversight with review and appeal mechanisms.

Operationally, the government disclosed that around 6.5 million pornographic websites have been blocked using the WMS. Since February 2025, the system has also been used to block Indian content associated with misinformation campaigns and cyber-attacks targeting Pakistan. The blocking of X was carried out through the Web Monitoring System following government direction.