Nationwide Internet Outage in Pakistan Disrupts Connectivity

 

On September 24, 2025, Pakistan experienced a major nationwide internet outage, leaving millions of users disconnected from the digital world. Connectivity across the country dropped to as low as 20%, according to real-time monitoring platforms such as NetBlocks.

What Happened?

The disruption was reportedly caused by technical faults in international submarine cables, further worsened by adverse weather conditions. As a result, internet service providers (ISPs) faced widespread downtime, and users across major cities—including Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, and Quetta—struggled to access online services.

Impact on Businesses and Daily Life

• Businesses: E-commerce platforms, banking services, and IT companies reported major delays and service interruptions. Freelancers working with international clients also faced significant productivity losses.

• Healthcare & Education: Online health portals and e-learning platforms became inaccessible, causing problems for patients and students alike.

• General Public: Social media platforms, video calls, and messaging apps were either too slow or completely unavailable, leading to frustration among citizens.

Official Response

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) acknowledged the disruption and confirmed that restoration work was underway. By late evening, connectivity had started to improve gradually, though full restoration was expected to take several hours.

Why Such Outages Matter

Internet outages not only affect daily communication but also have economic and security implications. With Pakistan’s growing reliance on digital services, a lack of redundancy in critical infrastructure highlights the urgent need for:

• Stronger backup systems

• Alternative data routes

• Investment in resilient digital infrastructure

Conclusion

Yesterday’s outage served as a reminder of how fragile internet connectivity can be in Pakistan. While the issue is being resolved, long-term solutions are needed to prevent similar nationwide disruptions in the future.

Sources: Dawn, Tribune, ProPakistani.