Internet users across Pakistan faced significant difficulties connecting to WhatsApp on Saturday, just days after the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) warned the government about the severe consequences of internet shutdowns and a possible VPN ban.
According to the outage tracking website Downdetector, there was a peak of 207 complaints within an hour, primarily around 10 pm, with 67% of the users struggling to send messages, especially media files, and 16% experiencing issues receiving them.
The disruptions that affected the Meta-owned instant messaging app were most pronounced in Punjab, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa experienced sporadic problems. As Downdetector’s heat map indicated, Karachi saw the most substantial impact across Sindh.
Industry insiders reported difficulties in sharing media files, yet the exact cause of the problem remained unclear. Internet service providers received considerable customer backlash due to the sudden WhatsApp outage, with many users frustrated by their inability to send media. However, the source of the disruption was not immediately identifiable.
Without any official explanation, some users speculated that the disruptions were connected to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) widely publicized protest in Islamabad on Sunday.
WhatsApp service disruptions have become a recurring issue in Pakistan, often coinciding with significant events like PTI protests. While officials typically cite technical failures or submarine cable damage as reasons for these outages, the pattern suggests a correlation with political events.
On X (formerly Twitter), PTI-affiliated accounts launched a campaign on Saturday, appealing to X’s owner Elon Musk, who heads SpaceX, to make Starlink available in Pakistan. Starlink, developed by SpaceX, aims to provide affordable internet access to remote areas through a satellite network.
