QUETA:
The Balochistan government on Friday suspended mobile internet services in Quetta for 24 hours in response to intelligence-based security alerts, provincial Home Department officials confirmed.
The decision, aimed at preventing possible unrest, will remain in force until midnight. Authorities said the move was part of broader efforts to maintain law and order in the provincial capital, where security has been placed on high alert.
The city’s Red Zone, which houses key government offices and facilities, has been heavily fortified, with police, Frontier Corps (FC) and paramilitary units deployed at sensitive points across Quetta.
The move followed a letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs, in which the provincial government requested suspension of 3G and 4G services in Quetta on October 31, citing a “peculiar law and order situation” and heightened threat perception.
Officials said the move was necessary to safeguard public life and property in view of security concerns. However, the blackout disrupted the daily lives of thousands of citizens, including students, merchants and professionals who rely heavily on digital connectivity for work and education.
This is not the first time the province has faced communication restrictions. Many residents expressed frustration and urged the government to explore less disruptive alternatives during such emergency measures.
Mobile data services were previously suspended for more than two weeks in August before being restored following an order by the Balochistan High Court. The latest suspension comes amid deteriorating security conditions in the province.
