ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s recent restriction on social media platform X marks the country’s 5th Internet restriction in 2024 alone, said a leading virtual network (VPN) brand on Friday, raising concerns about growing Internet censorship in the country.
The social networking website has largely remained inaccessible to users in Pakistan for nearly a week since a senior bureaucrat last Saturday accused the country’s chief justice and top election commission official of rigging the controversial February 8 election.
The blockage has raised widespread concerns about democratic expression and media freedom, with the United States and several international organizations urging the government to provide unhindered Internet access to people.
Surfshark, a leading VPN brand, said Pakistan witnessed three restrictions in February that were “directly related to the election, while the remaining two happened in January during virtual events organized by the opposition [Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party].”
“These new cases mark a worrying spike in Internet censorship in Pakistan,” it said in a statement. “2024 has only started but has already exceeded both 2023 and 2022 in new restriction count — there were 4 Internet restrictions in 2023 and 3 in 2022.”
It added Surfshark had witnessed an increase in VPN usage in Pakistan since February 18.
“Daily new user acquisition rates have grown three to four times compared to the previous month, indicating a growing reliance on these services for Internet access and privacy,” it added.
The company noted that Pakistan had imposed restrictions on VPNs which could lead to difficulties when connecting to the circumvention tools.
“Pakistan’s Internet censorship efforts have been alarmingly increasing, and 2024 may be a record year for the country regarding Internet restrictions,” Lina Survila, Surfshark spokeswoman, said. “With reports of VPN restrictions coming to light as well, it seems that the country is prepared to take any means necessary to cut its citizens off from each other and the rest of the world.”
Earlier, NetBlocks, an Internet monitor based in the United Kingdom, said that restriction on platform X had entered the sixth day, making Pakistan join “a handful of countries that ban access to international social media platforms.”
Leading VPN brand raises censorship concerns as Pakistan faces fifth Internet restriction in 2024
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Leading VPN brand raises censorship concerns as Pakistan faces fifth Internet restriction in 2024
- Surfshark says Pakistan willing to take any measure ‘to cut citizens off from each other and the rest of the world’
- It mentions a spike in censorship, saying Pakistan witnessed four Internet restrictions in 2023 and three in 2022
IMF board to meet tomorrow to consider $1.2 billion disbursement for Pakistan
- Pakistan, IMF reached a Staff-Level Agreement for second review of $7 billion loan program
- Economists view disbursement crucial for cash-strapped Pakistan as it tackles economic crisis
ISLAMABAD: The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Executive Board will meet tomorrow, Monday, to consider and approve a $1.2 billion disbursement for Pakistan, according to the global lender’s official schedule.
The meeting takes place nearly two months after the Fund reached a Staff-Level Agreement (SLA) with Pakistan for the second review of its $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and the first review of its $1.4 billion Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF).
The SLA followed a mission led by IMF’s Iva Petrova, who held discussions with Pakistani authorities during a Sept. 24–Oct. 8 visit to Karachi, Islamabad and Washington, DC.
“The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Executive Board will convene on Dec. 8 to consider Pakistan’s request for a $1.2 billion disbursement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), according to the Fund’s updated schedule,” the state-run Pakistan TV reported on Sunday.
Economists view IMF’s bailout packages as crucial for cash-strapped Pakistan, which has relied heavily on financing from bilateral partners such as Saudi Arabia, China and the United Arab Emirates, as well as multilateral lenders including the IMF, World Bank, Asian Development Bank and Islamic Development Bank.
The South Asian country has been grappling with a prolonged macroeconomic crisis that has drained its financial resources and triggered a balance of payments crisis. Islamabad, however, has recorded some financial gains since 2022, which include recording a surplus in its current account and bringing inflation down considerably.
Speaking to Arab News last month, Pakistan’s former finance adviser Khaqan Najeeb said the $1.2 billion disbursement will further stabilize Pakistan’s near-term external position and unlock additional official inflows.
“Continued engagement also reinforces macro stability, as reflected in recent improvements in inflation, the current account, and reserve buffers,” Najeeb said.
Pakistan came close to sovereign default in mid-2023, when foreign exchange reserves fell below three weeks of import cover, inflation surged to a record 38 percent in May, and the country struggled to secure external financing after delays in its IMF program. Fuel shortages, import restrictions, and a rapidly depreciating rupee added to the pressure, while ratings agencies downgraded Pakistan’s debt and warned of heightened default risk.
The crisis eased only after Pakistan reached a last-minute Stand-By Arrangement with the IMF in June 2023, unlocking emergency support and preventing an immediate default.
