Internet services partially restored in parts of AJK after 48 days of suspension

Internet services were partially restored in parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir AJK on Thursday after remaining suspended for 48 days following restrictions imposed in the wake of the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC)’s long march and sit-in in Rawalakot on June 5.

Internet services were restored on Thursday night in Mirpur city, Afzalpur, Chakswari, Mangla Hamlet, Islamgarh, Kotli and Bhimber. However, connectivity remained unavailable in other parts of AJK, where restoration is expected to be carried out in phases before the general elections.

The prolonged suspension severely disrupted communications, online banking, business activity and public services, leaving thousands of consumers without access to the Internet. Businesses that rely on digital payments suffered financial losses, while students, freelancers, government offices and professionals faced difficulties in carrying out routine work.

Although connectivity resumed in parts of AJK, users continued to report intermittent outages and slow internet speeds.

The 48-day suspension sparked widespread frustration among residents, many of whom said the closure had hampered communication, delayed financial transactions and disrupted routine official work. The outage also underlined the region’s dependence on digital connectivity and raised concerns about the vulnerability of AJK’s communications infrastructure.

Officials said internet restoration would continue in phases and services are expected to resume in Muzaffarabad Division during the next stage of the process.

Earlier, Pakistan People’s Party (AJK) Chairman Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin wrote to AJK Chief Election Commissioner Retired Justice Ghulam Mustafa Mughal urging authorities to restore internet services across AJK.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also raised the issue during his election public meetings in AJK, asking authorities to immediately restore internet services to facilitate the activities of businesses, students and the general public.

READ: Bilawal promises greater constitutional rights, urges to restore internet in AJK

Residents and independent community members welcomed the partial restoration but urged the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and service providers to waive internet charges during June and July, arguing that consumers should not be billed for services that were unavailable during the prolonged suspension.

Following restoration of internet services in Mirpur division, Bilawal thanked concerned and Mughal authorities and urged PTA to improve internet speed across AJK.