The Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) has urged the government to restore mobile broadband services, which have been blocked nationwide due to political chaos following the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
The government has also blocked major social media platforms and slowed down YouTube services to control the spread of misinformation. P@SHA Chairman Muhammad Zohaib Khan stated that the blockage of mobile broadband services could result in a daily export loss of $3-4 million for the IT industry.
He emphasized that the IT industry relies heavily on the internet for its operations and that the sudden shutdown has brought the industry to a standstill. P@SHA demanded the immediate resumption of internet services and called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to intervene and instruct the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) to restore the services.
Khan also highlighted the impact on the industry’s credibility and goodwill, emphasizing the importance of timely delivery in IT export markets. He further requested support from the Ministry of IT and Telecom, Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), and Tech Destination Pakistan administrations to address the issue.
While the closure of mobile broadband services may not have a significant revenue impact on telecom operators, it has severely affected individuals relying on digital apps for various purposes. The exact financial losses incurred are yet to be calculated.
