Pakistan govt blames excess use of VPN for internet slowdown

Pakistan's State Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, dismissed allegations that the government is intentionally blocking or slowing down internet services and blamed excessive use of VPN by the public for the slowdown, reports ANI News. 

During a press conference, Shaza Fatima acknowledged the widespread internet disruptions and assured that steps are being taken to resolve the issues. 

She noted that the surge in VPN usage has placed a massive load on internet services, leading to the slowdown.

Earlier, on Saturday, the Lahore High Court directed the federal government and the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) to submit their responses regarding the ongoing internet disruptions affecting millions of Pakistanis. 

The court issued this order while hearing a petition filed by Noman Sarwar against the nationwide internet "shutdown." Justice Shakil Ahmad, who delivered the reserved verdict, instructed all parties involved to have their representatives appear before the court and submit their responses on 21 August.

The federal government has attributed the internet slowdown to the testing of a new firewall intended to regulate social media. This firewall, equipped with filters, aims to block unwanted content from reaching a broader audience, according to a report by Dawn.

The significant reduction in internet speeds has raised concerns among businesses and individuals who depend on fast and reliable connectivity in Pakistan. The slowdown is reportedly linked to increased government monitoring of internet traffic, aimed at enhancing security and surveillance.