In a recent statement, Minister of State for Information Technology Shiza Fatima claimed that the slow internet speeds in Pakistan are primarily due to the country’s large population and insufficient internet infrastructure.
“We have a lot of people, but not enough internet,” she said, implying that our excessive demand is the real culprit behind our sluggish connectivity.
While addressing reporters in Islamabad, Fatima explained that while many countries are advancing technologically, Pakistan faces the unique challenge of balancing rapid population growth with inadequate internet resources.
“The fact is, we have the cheapest internet in the world,” she stated, “but the demand is so high that it leads to slower speeds.” If you found that statement amusing, you’re not alone—after all, it seems every issue in Pakistan can be traced back to our population!
The Minister highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance the digital landscape, mentioning initiatives like the “Safe City” project, which aims to improve urban infrastructure. She also noted that the government is moving towards digital payments, asserting that even the smallest countries are embracing digitization while lamenting that many individuals in Pakistan buy homes and land but avoid paying taxes.
Fatima addressed the structural issues affecting internet speeds, mentioning that the entire country operates on a bandwidth of 274 megahertz, which has been a constraint in launching 5G services due to ongoing litigation involving a telecom company.
Additionally, she mentioned that two undersea cables belonging to PTCL had been damaged, but one has been repaired, and efforts are underway to bring four new cables to Pakistan.
She reassured that these challenges would be addressed and that the government remains committed to enhancing the country’s digital infrastructure. As for the slow internet speeds? Well, it looks like we’ll have to wait until our population decides to take a breather!
