Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Major General (retd) Hafiz ur Rehman addressed the misconception regarding the presence of a firewall in Pakistan’s web management system.
Speaking to journalists in Islamabad, he clarified that the term “firewall” does not accurately describe the systems in use in Pakistan, which he referred to as a web management system. “The term ‘firewall’ is a misconception on your part,” he told reporters, emphasizing that the issues were related to a fault in the submarine internet cable.
Major General Hafiz ur Rehman also discussed the web management system’s limitations, dismissing the idea that it could effectively control social media content. “If stopping propaganda was that simple, we would have done it already,” he said, pointing to the ongoing spread of memes about judges and the Prime Minister.
Read: Submarine Cable Fault Causes Internet Disruption in Pakistan: PTA
In a recent meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information Technology, chaired by Syed Aminul Haq, the PTA Chairman provided a comprehensive update on the impact of the submarine cable fault. He reported that one of the seven fibre optic cables coming to Pakistan was faulty, with repairs expected by August 27. He also noted that the increased use of VPNs had contributed to local internet disruptions.
Additionally, he clarified that the so-called firewall system, officially recognized as a web management system since 2006, underwent an upgrade starting in 2019. During the meeting, opposition Leader Omar Ayub questioned the system’s impact on social media content and whether intelligence agencies could block specific content. The Chairman confirmed that the system had been implemented during their administration and was part of ongoing operations.
Read: IT Minister Shaza Fatima Blames VPN Usage for Internet Slowdown in Pakistan
Addressing concerns about internet service disruptions and whether they were due to the firewall, the Chairman explained that the federal government had mandated installing this system and that it was PTA’s duty to comply. He reassured me that blocking VPNs was a misunderstanding and that such measures were not being taken.
The committee has requested a detailed technical briefing from the IT Secretary on the so-called firewall at their next meeting to clarify its functions and impact further.
