Minister of State for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja confirmed that Pakistan is in talks with Elon Musk’s Starlink to bring satellite internet services to the country. The move comes as Pakistan faces major internet disruptions and an ongoing ban on social media platform X, according to local media reports.
Khawaja discussed the ongoing talks during a heated parliamentary session on Friday, acknowledging challenges to Pakistan’s internet infrastructure and stating that the government is committed to improving internet services despite recent disruptions, including the ban on X, which, according to her, affects less than two percent of the population. .
He further justified the surveillance measures citing national security concerns, especially in light of recent terrorist attacks.
Starlink’s previous attempts to enter the market have been delayed by regulatory hurdles, particularly concerns about interference with Pakistan’s geostationary satellite, PakSAT-MM1.
Discussions over Starlink’s possible entry into the Pakistani market are seen as part of the government’s efforts to address growing connectivity issues.
However, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) released a report on Friday indicating widespread outages across major networks, including Jazz and Telenor, which reported issues with access to X.
PTA Chairman Major General (retd) Hafeezur Rehman distanced the agency from infrastructure concerns and stated that no new submarine cables have been brought to Pakistan in the last decade, highlighting that the government is responsible for the development of the cable.
Internet accessibility in Pakistan has been under scrutiny since early 2024, when the government imposed a ban on X and other social media platforms for security reasons.
The restrictions have drawn criticism from civil rights groups and business leaders, who are concerned about the impact on the economy and public liberties.
