The Balochistan government has suspended mobile internet services across Quetta for 24 hours, citing intelligence-based security alerts. Officials confirmed the blackout will remain in effect until midnight on Friday.
The provincial Home Department stated the measure is a preventative step to maintain public order. This action follows a formal request from the provincial government to the federal Ministry of the Interior. The request highlighted a “peculiar law and order situation” and heightened security threats.
In response to the alerts, authorities have placed Quetta on high alert. Security has been significantly tightened in the city’s Red Zone, which houses critical government installations.
A substantial deployment of police, Frontier Corps (FC), and other paramilitary forces is now visible at sensitive locations throughout the capital. The government says these steps are necessary to safeguard public life and property.
Read: Quetta Bomb Blast Kills 10, Including Soldiers, Near FC Headquarters
The internet suspension has severely disrupted daily life for residents of Quetta. Students, traders, and professionals who depend on digital connectivity for work and education are facing significant challenges.
Mobile data services remained unavailable for over two weeks in August, until the Balochistan High Court ordered their restoration. The recurrence of such blackouts has frustrated the public, with many citizens urging the government to adopt less disruptive methods for managing security emergencies.