Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) lawmaker Sharmila Farooqi expressed frustration during a meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information Technology, accusing the government of failing to address persistent internet outages, Express News reported.
The meeting, chaired by Federal IT Minister Syed Aminul Haque, focused on the issues of slow internet. Farooqi criticized Minister of State for IT Sheza Fatima Khawaja for her responses, questioning the government’s claims about improving internet services.
“Every time the PTI announces a protest, the Internet suddenly goes down. Is the government calling e-commerce companies, the public and us liars? Farooqi asked, pointing to the financial losses suffered by her husband’s e-commerce business due to the issue.
Responding to criticism, Sheza Fatima defended the government’s stance, citing national security concerns.
“This country faces terrorism. More than 100 soldiers were martyred in one month. Surveillance is necessary when necessary, but it should not place an unnecessary burden on the public,” he said.
Addressing internet-related complaints, Khawaja said: “There were problems, but they have been resolved. Pakistan exported $1.5 billion last month. If the Internet doesn’t work, where will this income come from? He added that efforts are being made to introduce satellite Internet through Starlink.
Farooqi dismissed the minister’s assurances, saying: “Four meetings have passed and no solution has yet been found. “Either we are lying or the government is lying.” He urged transparency regarding internet outages, particularly during political protests, saying: “We are not stupid. Tell the truth if there are safety concerns.”
MQM’s Mustafa Kamal stressed that it was the government’s responsibility to correct public perception. Farooqi further highlighted personal frustrations, adding, “Even WhatsApp is not working properly. Voice memos are not sent. If there are safety issues, just tell us the truth and find solutions.”
The meeting concluded with committee members asking for clearer explanations and actionable steps to address current Internet problems.
