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Karachi Hit by Major Internet Disruptions Amid PTI Protests
Karachi faces massive challenges as PTI protests disrupt internet services. Students, businesses, and daily life hit hard by the outages, impacting communication and livelihoods.
ND
by News Desk
2024-11-26
Karachi Hit by Major Internet Disruptions Amid PTI Protests

Karachi, Pakistan’s bustling metropolis, has been grappling with severe internet disruptions over the past three days, affecting millions of residents and businesses. The ongoing outages, which have impacted both WiFi and mobile data services, are believed to be linked to the protests organized by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) supporters heading towards Islamabad, where roadblockages and barricades have worsened the connectivity situation.

 

The internet disruptions have made it incredibly difficult for people to use essential services, from social media apps like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, to professional services like file sharing and online communication. Citizens have reported issues with sending pictures, uploading videos, and even performing basic tasks like browsing the web.

 

For Karachi’s residents, this disruption is a huge setback, especially given the city’s lack of an accessible and reliable transportation system. With many people depending on online cab services and digital platforms to commute, the impact has been particularly harsh on students and working professionals.

 

Aqdas Jaffar, a private company employee, shared his frustration: “I commute daily from Saadi Town to I.I. Chundrigar Road using Bykea, which has been my go-to app for convenience. But now, I can’t find a rider, either in the morning or evening, due to the internet issues. It’s making my daily routine incredibly stressful.”

 

Neha, a Baqai Medical University student, echoed similar concerns: "I can’t afford to miss my classes, but commuting has become a nightmare. I used to book a rickshaw at affordable rates through inDrive, but now, with the internet issues, I have to pay up to three times more. The situation is becoming unbearable."

 

For ride-share drivers like Khuda Baksh, the internet disruptions have hit even harder. "I haven’t been able to complete a single ride since yesterday. The maps don’t work, and the app keeps crashing. It’s very frustrating, especially since this is how I make a living,” he said.

 

The disruptions have also been especially damaging for small business owners, who rely heavily on the internet for communication, social media marketing, and customer engagement.

 

Maham Tariq, owner of Mayhem Bakes, explained how her business has been impacted: "Everything depends on the internet, from contacting clients to ordering ingredients. This outage has disrupted my entire workflow. It’s very damaging to small businesses like mine."

 

Syed Talal Rizvi, who runs Attitude Apparel, shared similar woes: "I’ve lost over 100,000 on Meta ads because they didn’t generate any results due to the internet outage. I can’t communicate with my customers effectively, and my business has suffered as a result."

 

The content creation community in Karachi has also been severely affected. Zia Tabarak from Street Food PK spoke about the challenges faced by content creators: "My entire business revolves around the internet. These disruptions are a huge setback, affecting my content creation schedule and causing me to miss important brand deals. It’s hurting the economy too."

 

Zarrar Khuhro, a veteran journalist, offered his perspective on the situation: "This has become the new normal, but there’s nothing normal about it. The uncertainty is wreaking havoc on the economy. Businesses depend on consistency, and with these daily disruptions, people don’t know what to expect. It’s only adding to the growing frustration towards the authorities."

 

In light of the situation, many are calling for government intervention to address the root causes of the disruptions and ensure that internet services are restored to normal as soon as possible. As Karachi continues to struggle with these outages, the broader implications on the city’s economy and daily life remain a growing concern.

 

 
Tagged:

PTIProtests

KarachiInternetOutage

KarachiStruggles

DigitalDisruptions
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