Internet and Social Media Disrupted in Pakistan Once Again

Internet and social media access in Pakistan have been disrupted once again. Both Facebook and X are currently inaccessible without VPNs on multiple internet providers, including PTCL, Ufone, Zong, and others. Internet speeds in general have also plummeted.

However, some internet providers, including Nayatel, appear to be working fine at the time of writing and are able to access Facebook and X normally. Meanwhile, PTCL users are reporting hindrance in even messaging apps such as WhatsApp.

Website outage tracker Downdetector is currently showing hundreds of disruption reports for Facebook in Pakistan, and users on X are reporting similar issues for the Elon Musk-owned social platform.

The outage comes shortly after the weekend during which mobile internet services were completely suspended in Islamabad and Lahore for several days amid widespread protests by the hardline group Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).

Read more: Pakistan cannot afford TLP-led chaos again, Talal Chaudhry

The TLP protests began calling for large marches and sit-ins from Lahore to the federal capital in solidarity with the Palestinians. The government responded with strong security measures: deploying troops, sealing roads, and shutting down mobile internet in key areas to prevent the protests from spiraling into broader unrest.

In Islamabad and its twin city Rawalpindi, 3G and 4G services were ordered suspended beginning October 9, under directives from the Ministry of Interior and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). The mobile data blackout was intended to control mass mobilization, but left many citizens and businesses disconnected.