ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is using a controversial Web Monitoring System (WMS) to block online applications and websites in Pakistan, according to a written response to parliament this week by the minister in charge of the cabinet division which has administrative control over PTA.
Millions of Pakistanis have faced a mysterious months-long Internet slowdown that has drawn backlash from activists and business leaders who believe the state is testing a firewall, a security system that monitors network traffic but can also be used to control online spaces. Pakistan has blamed the slowdown on damaged underwater cables.
Nearly half of the country’s population has faced problems in using and accessing social media platforms, including the popular WhatsApp. Pakistan has 110 million Internet users, and up to 40 percent slower Internet speeds have affected nearly half the country’s 241 million population.
In a written response to a question by Shahida Rehmani, a lawmaker from Sindh, the minister in-charge of the cabinet division, who is technically the prime minister, admitted to using a Web Monitoring System, which utilizes peep packet inspection technology to detect and block VPN traffic and allows the government to monitor all Internet traffic entering or leaving Pakistan.
“PTA has also deployed a Web Monitoring System (WMS) for Internet content management within its technical limits, through which applications/websites requiring blocking within Pakistan are blocked,” the written response to parliament dated Aug. 26 and seen by Arab News said.
“PTA so far has blocked 2,369 URLs and 183 Mobile Application involved in exposing personal data/identity information.”
The response said Clause 37 (1) of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 mandated that PTA block unlawful online content, especially if seen “necessary in the interest of Defense of Pakistan, Glory of Islam, Contempt of Court, Decency and Morality, Defamation, Child Pornography, Modesty of Natural Person, Dignity of Natural Person, Public Order, Hate Speech, Incitement to an Offense etc.”
The minister said despite geo-blocking at the gateway level, objectionable content could still be accessed through VPN.
“VPN users, who are bypassing the gateway through their private traffic, are also bypassing the state policy regarding banned content,” the response said. “PTA is registering VPN since December 2010, under the directive issued on 02 December 2010 (Annex-A), which was issued in accordance with Monitoring and Reconciliation of Telephonic Traffic (MRTT) Regulation 2010 clause.
“VPN is also used by legitimate businesses such as software houses, call center and foreign missions/embassies etc. for secure management of their private networks. Hence, to facilitate these legitimate users, while preventing their misuse, PTA has issued a public notice for registration of VPNs.”
The minister said various courts of law had also directed PTA to take all possible measures to ensure effective blocking of unlawful content.
“Based on complaints received from stakeholder organizations and the general public, PTA till date has blocked a total of 469 mobile 26 applications (435 Android and 34 Apple) related to various categories including applications “against the glory of Islam, indecent/immoral content and fraudulent activities.”
IT minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja has repeatedly said the government was not behind the Internet slowdown, blaming it on a surge in VPN use. She has also rejected that the planned firewall will be used for censorship purposes.
The Internet challenges come as Pakistan’s military — the country’s most powerful institution — says it is battling so-called “digital terrorism.” Independent analysts say the main target of the digital disruption is the party of jailed opposition leader Imran Khan, still wildly popular and boosted by a young, tech-savvy voter base.
Pakistan says using Web Monitoring System to block online content
https://arab.news/g2p46
Pakistan says using Web Monitoring System to block online content
- Millions of Pakistanis face mysterious months-long Internet slowdown that has drawn backlash from activists and business leaders
- Pakistani authorities have blamed the slowdown on damaged underwater cables and a surge in the use of VPNs
IMF board to approve Pakistan reviews today ‘if all goes well,’ say officials
- IMF’s executive board is scheduled to meet today to discuss the disbursement of $1.2 billion
- Economists say the money will boost Pakistan’s forex reserves, send positive signals to investors
KARACHI: The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) executive board is scheduled to meet today, Monday, to approve the release of about $1.2 billion for Pakistan under the lender’s two loan facilities, said IMF officials who requested not to be named.
The IMF officials confirmed the executive board was going to decide on the Fund’s second review under the $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and first review under the $1.4 billion Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), a financing tool that provides long-term, low-cost loans to help countries address climate risks.
“The board meeting will be taking place as planned,” an IMF official told Arab News.
“The board is on today yes as per the calendar,” said another.
A well-placed official at Pakistan’s finance ministry also confirmed the board meeting was scheduled today to discuss the next tranche for Pakistan.
The IMF executive board’s meeting comes nearly two months after a staff-level agreement (SLA) was signed between the two sides in October.
Procedurally, the SLAs are subject to approval by the executive board, though it is largely viewed as a formality.
“If all goes well, the reviews should pass,” said the second IMF official.
On approval, Pakistan will have access to about $1 billion under the EFF and about $200 million under the RSF, the IMF said in a statement in October after the SLA.
The fresh transfer will bring total disbursements under the two arrangements to about $3.3 billion, it added.
Experts see smooth sailing for Pakistan in terms of the passing of the two reviews, saying the IMF disbursements will help the cash-strapped nation to strengthen its balance of payments position.
Samiullah Tariq, group head of research at Pakistan Kuwait Investment Company Limited, said the IMF board’s approval will show that Pakistan’s economy is on the right path.
“It obviously will help strengthen [the country’s] external sector, the balance of payments,” he told Arab News.
Until recently, Pakistan grappled with a macroeconomic crisis that drained its financial resources and triggered a balance of payments crisis.
Pakistan has reported financial gains since 2022, recording current account surpluses and taming inflation that touched unprecedented levels in mid-2023.
Economists also viewed the 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.
Saudi Arabia, through the Saudi Fund for Development, last week extended the term of its $3 billion deposit for another year to help Pakistan boost its foreign exchange reserves, which stood at $14.5 billion as of November 28, according to State Bank of Pakistan statements.
“In our view this [IMF tranche] will be approved,” said Shankar Talreja, head of research at Karachi-based brokerage Topline Securities Limited.
“This will help strengthen reserves and will eventually help a rating upgrade going forward,” he said.
The IMF board’s nod, Talreja said, would also send a signal to the international and local investors regarding the continuation of the reform agenda by Pakistan’s government.
