The trial run of a new firewall has recently slowed down social media in Pakistan, raising concerns about the potential impact on internet-based businesses. Officials have reassured that internet traffic will return to normal once the trial concludes.
The government has allocated over Rs30 billion from the development budget for this firewall project, with funds assigned to the Ministry of Information Technology (MoIT). However, the project’s execution is handled by a separate authority, making MoIT’s role primarily intermediary.
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Work on the firewall began in January and includes the purchase and installation of the system, which is now in the commissioning phase. This phase is expected to take several weeks. While the firewall may subtly affect internet-based businesses, officials have indicated that these are not the primary target.
The primary goal of the firewall is to limit the influence of social media influencers who are believed by the government to be spreading fake news. The strategy involves blocking or reducing the visibility of their content. Influencers are already being addressed under the Prevention of Electronic Crime Act 2016, with specialized courts established to handle these cases.
