BY : Name Muhammad Zeeshan Javed,
Szabist University Karachi.
October 23, 2024, Pakistan Poor internet performance is causing serious problems for millions of customers in Pakistan. The productivity of workers, business professionals, and students is being adversely affected by slow internet speeds and frequent disruptions. Both urban and rural areas are experiencing these connectivity problems, which is slowing down digital activity nationwide. The poor internet performance is impeding general economic growth and affecting digital services for businesses, virtual office work, and online education for students.
This condition is especially hurting freelancers in Pakistan. Because Pakistan’s internet speed and quality fall short of international standards, freelancers have complained that foreign clients are hesitant to hire them. Freelancers find it challenging to finish assignments on time due to frequent internet outages and sluggish speeds, which hurts the nation’s online reputation internationally in addition to their revenues. Freelancers are also having difficulty charging appropriate charges for their services and are being pushed to labour at cheaper rates as a result of inadequate internet connectivity.
Many promises to upgrade internet infrastructure have been made by the government and telecom companies, but they have mainly stayed in the realm of words. The progress in internet access has been negligible, especially in outlying places. High expenses, import restrictions, and economic pressures are holding down the construction of infrastructure, leading freelancers, internet businesses, and students to suffer. There is an urgent need for fast and reliable internet connections to facilitate digital growth in the country and assist Pakistan compete globally in the digital arena.