Internet shutdown costs Pakistan’s IT Industry $910,000 per hour

ISLAMABAD: The Senate’s Standing Committee on IT and Telecom, led by Senator Palwasha Khan, met today to discuss pressing issues within Pakistan’s IT sector. During the meeting, Chairman of Pasha (Pakistan Software Houses Association) Sajjad Mustafa Syed voiced serious concerns over the government’s VPN policy, highlighting the detrimental effect on the country’s IT industry.

Syed revealed that each hour of internet downtime results in a loss of approximately $910,000 for the sector, underlining the critical role that reliable internet access plays in the industry’s continued growth. His comments came amid rising concerns over the government’s approach to internet management and policy enforcement.

Senator Palwasha Khan also raised issues with the Ministry of IT, criticizing the tendency to shift responsibility to the Ministry of Interior. “I don’t understand why we even have a Ministry of IT if this is how things are managed,” she remarked, expressing frustration over the lack of coordination between government bodies.

In response, the Secretary of IT assured the committee that efforts are being made to strike a balance between national security needs and minimizing disruptions to the IT sector. “We are striving to meet national security requirements while ensuring the least impact on the IT sector,” the Secretary stated, emphasizing the need for a more strategic approach to policy-making.

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The committee’s discussion highlighted the urgent need for more coherent policies that support both national security and the sustainable growth of Pakistan’s IT industry, which has become an increasingly important contributor to the national economy.