KARACHI: Pakistan authorities blamed a mystery months-long Internet slowdown that has drawn backlash from activists and business leaders on damaged underwater cables.
Digital rights experts believe the state is testing a firewall — a security system that monitors network traffic but can also be used to control online spaces.
The government has previously blamed a surge in VPN use for the slowdown whilst also admitting that the country was “undergoing a transition.”
“The ongoing Internet slowdown across the country is mainly due to (a) fault in two of the seven international submarine cables connecting Pakistan internationally,” Pakistan’s Telecommunications Authority said in a statement on Wednesday, adding that the fault would be repaired by early October.
Internet networks have been up to 40 percent slower than normal since July, according to one IT association, while WhatsApp and VPN connections are severely disrupted.
The government and PTA for weeks refused to comment on the slowdown.
At the start of the month, defense minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said the country was “undergoing a transition.”
He added that “there will be some controls to prevent threatening and defamatory content against the state and individuals.”
IT minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja later denied that the government was behind the Internet slowdown, blaming it on a surge in VPN use.
It comes as Pakistan’s military — the country’s most powerful institution — says it is battling so-called “digital terrorism.”
Analysts say the main target of the digital disruption is the party of jailed opposition leader Imran Khan, still wildly popular and boosted by a young, tech-savvy voter base.
Global rights watchdog Amnesty International urged Pakistan authorities to be transparent.
“The opacity of the Pakistani authorities regarding the use of monitoring and surveillance technologies that block content, slow down and control Internet speeds is an alarming concern,” said the organization’s technology expert Jurre Van Bergen.
Pakistan is banking on its nascent but growing Information Technology industry to increase its exports and generate critical foreign exchange revenue for a cash-strapped country.
“Without immediate and decisive action, the country risks deeper economic fallout and a prolonged digital divide,” Shahzad Arshad, the chairman of the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan, said in a statement.
Pakistan blames mystery Internet slowdown on underwater cables
https://arab.news/2pfzp
Pakistan blames mystery Internet slowdown on underwater cables
- Government previously blamed a surge in VPN use for the slowdown whilst also admitting that the country was ‘undergoing a transition’
- Digital rights experts believe the state is testing a firewall that monitors network traffic but can also be used to control online spaces
US seeks investment in Pakistan’s vast mineral reserves during top official’s visit
- Senior State Department official Eric Meyer was in Islamabad to attend international minerals summit
- Despite rich reserves of salt, copper, gold and coal, Pakistan’s mineral sector contributes only 3.2 percent to GDP
ISLAMABAD: A senior US official has expressed interest in enhancing cooperation with Pakistan in the minerals sector, citing President Donald Trump’s vision of securing rare materials as a “strategic priority” that could benefit both countries, the US Embassy said on Wednesday.
The mission released the statement after Eric Meyer, a senior official from the US Department of State’s Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, attended an international minerals summit in Islamabad aimed at attracting foreign investment in the country’s mining sector. Apart from gold and copper, Pakistan is also rich in lithium used to make batteries, as well as other minerals.
The summit has drawn participation from major international companies, including Canada-based Barrick Gold, as well as government officials from the United States, Saudi Arabia, China, Turkiye, the United Kingdom, Turkiye, Azerbaijan, and other nations.
“President Trump has made it clear that securing diverse and reliable sources of these materials is a strategic priority,” the US Embassy quoted Meyer as saying. “Pakistan’s vast mineral potential — if responsibly and transparently developed — can benefit both our countries.”
Despite rich reserves of salt, copper, gold and coal, Pakistan’s mineral sector contributes only 3.2 percent to GDP and 0.1 percent to global exports. The country is now aiming to tap into this underutilized potential.
Pakistan is home to one of the world’s largest porphyry copper-gold mineral zones, while the Reko Diq mine in southwestern Balochistan has an estimated 5.9 billion tons of ore.
Barrick Gold, which owns a 50 percent stake in the Reko Diq mines, considers them one of the world’s largest underdeveloped copper-gold areas, and their development is expected to have a significant impact on Pakistan’s struggling economy.
However, Balochistan is plagued by a decades-long insurgency, with ethnic Baloch separatists opposing any foreign investment which they say is an attempt by Islamabad to solidify its hold through external players on their regional resources.
They have been fighting for decades for a greater share of local resources, but some of their armed groups now say they will not settle for anything less than a separate homeland.
One of the largest insurgent groups, the Baloch Liberation Army, claimed responsibility for the train hijacking, which resulted in the deaths of 23 soldiers, three railway employees and five passengers. At least 33 insurgents were also killed.
Addressing the minerals summit on Tuesday, Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir said the military would “ensure a robust security framework, proactive measures to protect the interests and trust of partners and investors.”
“You can count on Pakistan as a reliable partner.”
$170 million raised in Pakistan’s largest-ever IPO for Lucky Islamic Money Market Fund
- Lucky Investments says investors demonstrated “overwhelming confidence” in its first Shariah-compliant offering
- State Bank of Pakistan has set the target to increase the share of Islamic banking system to 35 percent by 2025
ISLAMABAD: Lucky Investments Limited said on Wednesday it had successfully raised Rs50 billion ($170 million) during the Initial Public Offering (IPO) of its debut fund, the Lucky Islamic Money Market Fund, the largest ever mutual fund launch in Pakistan.
The Fund had declared the launch of its IPO for April 9, inviting all interested investors to become part of a historic interest-free, Shariah-compliant Pakistan initiative, as per a notice issued by the company.
“This landmark achievement marks an extraordinary milestone in Pakistan’s financial sector, where investors nationwide demonstrated overwhelming confidence in the company’s first Shariah-compliant offering,” Lucky Investments said in a statement.
“The record-breaking subscription underscores robust demand for Islamic financial products and firmly positions Lucky Investments’ place as a promising new player in Pakistan’s Asset Management Industry.”
Lucky Investments, a subsidiary of Pakistan’s Lucky Group, focuses on investment and portfolio management across sectors like energy, real estate and manufacturing. Originally known as Interloop Asset Management Limited, the company was acquired by Yunus Brothers Group in December 2024 and rebranded as Lucky Investments Limited.
The company listed Lucky Islamic Money Market Fund as the first in a planned series of Shariah-compliant mutual funds set to be introduced by the company.
“We are profoundly grateful for the extraordinary trust placed in us by investors across Pakistan,” Lucky Investments Chief Executive Officer Mohammad Shoaib was quoted as saying in the statement.
“Breaking the national record with a Rs50 billion subscription in a single day is not just a milestone for Lucky Investments, but a testament to the growing strength of Islamic finance in our market.”
Shariah-compliant investments are gaining traction in Pakistan as investors seek ethical, faith-based financial solutions. Supported by a growing Islamic finance sector and regulatory backing from the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan and the State Bank, the market continues to expand through mutual funds, sukuk, and Islamic banking products.
In 2024, Islamic banking in Pakistan held a significant market share, with assets and deposits accounting for approximately 19 percent and 24 percent of the overall banking industry, respectively, by the end of September.
The State Bank has set the target to increase the share of the Islamic banking system to 35 percent by 2025.
Pakistanis divided as Afghan migrants face expulsion under new policy
- Pakistan has asked all “illegal foreigners” and Afghan Citizen Card holders to leave or face deportation from April 1
- Move is part of larger deportation drive that began in November 2023 and has seen over 900,000 Afghans expelled
ISLAMABAD: As Pakistan intensifies its campaign to expel thousands of Afghan migrants, opinions in Islamabad remain divided, according to interviews with residents.
Earlier this year, Pakistan’s interior ministry asked all “illegal foreigners” and holders of Afghan Citizen Cards — a document launched in 2017 to grant temporary legal status to Afghan refugees — to leave the country before Mar. 31, warning that they would otherwise be deported from April 1. The move is part of a larger repatriation drive of foreign citizens that began in November 2023, with over 900,000 Afghans expelled from Pakistan since.
While 19-year-old student Rubab Iffat called the deportations “not right,” others like teacher Pervaiz Akhtar supported the government’s decision, saying Afghans were against Pakistan and were behind terror attacks in the country. The government in Kabul denies Afghanistan is to blame for Pakistan’s security problems.
“Even on social media, they [Afghans] are against Pakistan ... They make their living here, but they are against us,” Akhtar said.
“If you look overall, even locally, if you ask someone what Afghans say about us, they are against our country. Terrorism is also being carried out from there [Afghanistan] so it is justified that they leave. And they should go by all means, their country is Afghanistan.”
But Iffat said the government was not “doing the right thing” by expelling Afghans:
“Because they have been living here [Pakistan] for a long time and their home is here now, their children are studying here, so this is their country too. They should be given the same rights as us.”
Meanwhile, Afghanistan-bound trucks have been piling up outside Pakistan migrant camps as pressure to leave mounts.
In a migrant camp in the southwestern border town of Chaman, Afghan migrant Ismail prepared to return to his home country, leaving behind an “unfinished” life after a decade in Pakistan.
“I had a stable job, I had found stability,” he said, standing in front of rows of loaded trucks bound for Afghanistan. “Then the government told us we had to leave.”
Ghulam Hazrat said he had to leave behind his house and business and in the days leading up to leaving Karachi where he has lived for years, he had faced harassment from police.
“We were harassed every day. They didn’t even spare us on the streets and threw us straight into jail,” Hazrat added.
“Because of all this, we became very desperate and decided to leave Karachi [for Afghanistan].”
KFC, Domino’s Pizza outlets attacked in Pakistan over Gaza war — police
- Mobs have attacked KFC and Domino’s Pizza outlets in Pakistan’s commercial capital of Karachi in three separate assaults since Monday
- Attacks widely blamed on TLP religious-political party which denies involvement and says using peaceful means to force boycotts
KARACHI: Three Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants and one Domino’s Pizza outlet were attacked in the Pakistani city of Karachi over the past three days, causing some damage but no injuries, police said, describing the assaults as being motivated by anger over Israel’s war in Gaza.
Boycott campaigns have hit Western brands in many Muslim countries since the start of Israel’s latest war on Gaza in October 2023, spearheaded by the BDS Movement, a global, Palestinian-led campaign advocating for non-violent pressure on Israel to respect Palestinian rights under international law. The movement calls for the boycott of certain companies and organizations that it says have invested in Israel or donate to its military and are directly profiting from its economy.
While not officially on the BDS boycott list, KFC has faced backlash from pro-Palestinian advocates in many countries who believe the brand’s operations in Israel contribute to the conflict. KFC, owned by Yum! Brands, has faced boycotts in many Arab nations and accusations of supporting Israel due to Yum! Brands’ investments in Israeli-based startups, but the company maintains it is non-political and denies supporting the Israeli military or government. Dominos is on the boycott list of the BDS, which says it donates to the Israeli military, an accusation the company denies. There is, however, an Israeli subsidiary of Domino’s Pizza.
“A mob of about 100 to 150 people attempted to ransack a multinational food chain outlet and block the main highway,” Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in the Malir area, Kashif Abbasi, to Arab News, confirming that the outlet was a local branch of KFC.
He said police acted promptly, dispersed the crowd and prevented damage to the building while arresting nine suspects.
On Tuesday, a mob of around 35 people attacked KFC and Domino’s Pizza restaurants in Karachi, with ten suspects arrested.
“The attack on the food outlets was motivated by anger over the situation in Gaza,” said Syed Asad Raza, Deputy Inspector General (DIG).
“There is a similar pattern across the Muslim World, especially Bangladesh and other countries, mostly incited through social media.”
In a third attack on Monday over a dozen men hurled stones at a KFC outlet and broke its windows.
“They were unable to enter the outlet and fled due to the prompt response of the police. No arrests have been made, but we have registered a case against the unidentified attackers,” Dr. Farrukh Raza, Senior Superintendent of Police for East Karachi, told Arab News.
On Wednesday, media also reported attacks on a KFC branch in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore.
The attacks have been widely blamed on the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) religious-political party, known to lead violent protests in the country, most prominently in support of blasphemy laws.
However, TLP spokesperson Rehan Mohsin Khan distanced the party from the attacks on the KFC and Domino’s Pizza restaurants and told Arab News that while TLP’s stance on the Palestine issue was “clear,” violent protests were “not part of our policy.”
“If one or two members of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan were present among the protesters out of their love for Gaza, it does not mean that it was the policy of the party or we support violence,” he said.
“We are in favor of peaceful protests, and we are trying to pressure the Pakistani government to officially boycott all these products.”
Pakistanis eligible for five-year visa to UAE — officials
- There have been widespread reports in recent months of a decline in visa approvals for Pakistanis by the UAE
- Problems with documents, criminal records and lack of respect for local laws among reasons for refusals to Pakistanis
KARACHI: A provincial governor in Pakistan and the UAE consulate in Karachi said this week visa issues between the two countries had been resolved and Pakistanis could now apply for five-year visas to the Emirates.
There have been widespread reports in recent months of a decline in visa approvals by the UAE for Pakistanis and a decrease in overall employment opportunities for the South Asian country’s nationals, allegedly due to their lack of respect for local laws and customs, as well as their participation in political activities and sloganeering while abroad.
News that visa issues had been resolved first came on Monday from the office of the governor of Pakistan’s Sindh province after he met UAE Ambassador Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi in Karachi.
“In a meeting with Governor Sindh Kamran Khan Tessori, UAE Ambassador Hamad Obaid Al-Zaabi said that visa issues have been resolved, Pakistanis can get five-year visas,” Tessori’s office said in a statement.
On Tuesday, the UAE’s consulate in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, also released a statement about the meeting between Al-Zaabi and Tessori, quoting the governor as saying Pakistanis could avail the five-year visa facility.
“We love Pakistanis very much,” the statement added, quoting Consul General Bakheet Ateeq Al-Rumaithi. “Every person can apply for a UAE visa … Pakistani citizens can also apply for a UAE visa for work, medical treatment and other needs.”
In February, Pakistani Ambassador to the UAE, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, had said several factors were contributing to Pakistanis’ inability to obtain visas, including problems with documentation and criminal records of applicants.
There are approximately 1.5 to 2 million Pakistanis living in the UAE, making them the second-largest expatriate group after Indians. The Gulf nation is also the second largest source of foreign remittances to Pakistan after Saudi Arabia.
