Khushnood Aftab Calls for Review and Consultation on National Firewall.
Pakistan’s IT Industry on the Brink of Disaster, FPCCI IT Committee Convener Warns.
Karachi (16th August 2024) Khushnood Aftab, Convener of the IT Committee at FPCCI and a member of the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), has issued a stark warning about the devastating impact of the hastily implemented national firewall, aligning his concerns with those of P@SHA. Aftab emphasized that Pakistan’s IT industry, once a shining beacon of growth and innovation, is now teetering on the edge of disaster due to severe operational disruptions. The crippling effects of extremely slow or non-existent internet connectivity and erratic VPN performance are not mere technical glitches—they are a direct and aggressive assault on the industry’s very survival. With financial losses already soaring to $300 million, and the potential for even greater damage, the situation is dire.
Aftab condemned the government’s lack of transparency and failure to consult the IT industry, which has sown deep distrust among international clients who now fear for the security of their data. This growing erosion of confidence threatens to trigger a mass exodus of IT companies, which would irrevocably damage Pakistan’s standing as a global technology hub.
He called on the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom (MoITT) to take immediate, decisive action to reverse this disastrous course. Aftab also demanded the formation of a joint committee, including representatives from the IT industry, business leaders, and relevant government stakeholders, to collaboratively develop a cybersecurity framework that safeguards national interests without strangling the IT industry. He underscored that the reliability of the internet is not just a business issue—it is a matter of national security. Any action that threatens this vital lifeline must be reconsidered urgently.
