Pakistan's internet has slowed to a crawl for over two months, sparking accusations of government interference aimed at suppressing protests by supporters of opposition leader Imran Khan. "The internet is working absolutely fine," claimed Information Minister Attaullah Tarar last month, dismissing concerns. Meanwhile, freelancers, ride-hailing drivers, and others who depend on mobile apps for gig work say the impact is crippling. One gig worker, Mohammad Arif, said when he tries to accept rides, his screen freezes. In a nation where only 4 million people have WiFi, compared to 140 million relying on mobile internet, the consequences are widespread.

Source: Washington Post October 14, 2024 10:29 UTC