Government Denies Slowing Down Internet, Clarifies Use of Monitoring System, The federal government has rejected claims that it intentionally throttled or shut down internet services across Pakistan, asserting that no such system has been deployed to slow down internet traffic. The clarification was issued in a written reply to the National Assembly amid ongoing public debates over connectivity issues.
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According to the statement, the government confirmed the use of a Web Monitoring System (WMS) — a legal mechanism designed to block objectionable content, including certain posts and pages on platforms like X (formerly Twitter). Officials emphasized that this system has been in place in various forms since 2008 and is periodically updated to meet evolving requirements.
The Web Monitoring System, the response said, was deployed jointly by major operators such as PTCL, Transworld Associates, mobile carriers, and international backbone providers, and is funded by the operators themselves rather than through public resources. It is used mainly to control “grey traffic” and block unlawful online content in compliance with existing license obligations.
Government lawyers also cited legal provisions under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 and related rules that empower authorities to remove or block online material on grounds including national security, public order, decency and morality. These procedural safeguards include timelines and avenues for appeal.
While the official response clarified that no system has been installed to throttle or shut down the internet, it confirmed that millions of websites featuring pornographic content have been blocked, and that the Web Monitoring System has recently been used to remove Indian content linked to misinformation and cyber-attacks. The blocking of X was also implemented through this system on directives from government bodies.
The government’s statement comes amid continued public frustration over internet speeds and connectivity, which have periodically drawn criticism from users and industry stakeholders. Previous reports suggest that some outages and slowdowns seen over the past year have been attributed by service providers to physical infrastructure issues such as undersea cable faults, while sceptics raise concerns over technology upgrades and their impact on internet performance.
Overall, the latest government response highlights efforts to balance content regulation and national security while disputing allegations that online services are being intentionally hampered — a key demand of internet users and digital rights advocates in Pakistan.
