Govt Blames VPNs For Internet Slowdown But The Public Isn’t Convinced

Rohama Batool

Hold on to your routers, folks! If you’ve been wondering why your internet’s been slower than a turtle on a treadmill lately, the government’s got an answer—but it’s not what you’d expect.

State Minister for IT, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, dropped a bombshell during a recent press conference in Islamabad, claiming that the recent internet slowdown across Pakistan wasn’t their fault at all.

The real culprit? VPNs!

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Lovin Isloo | لوڤن اسلام آباد (@lovinisloo)

Yes, you heard that right. Khawaja explained that the massive surge in VPN usage is what’s been clogging up the virtual highways, causing your Netflix binge sessions to buffer like it’s 2008.

According to her, it’s not a government-imposed restriction, but rather the flood of users bypassing local networks that’s slowing everything down.

But not everyone’s buying it. The public’s frustration has been brewing for days, with many suspecting that the government’s been meddling behind the scenes to control what we see and share online. The internet rumor mill has been buzzing with talk of a sneaky firewall installation, supposedly designed to throttle the flow of information—something Khawaja flatly denies.

Still, the skepticism remains high.

People are connecting the dots between the internet disruptions and the government’s recent moves to “upgrade” its cybersecurity systems.

Khawaja insists these measures are necessary to protect against cyber threats, not to silence dissent, but the timing has raised more than a few eyebrows.

    

And people are questioning the truth behind her statement…

To add fuel to the fire, the Lahore High Court has stepped in, summoning government officials for a sit-down to explain what’s really going on.

Meanwhile, businesses and freelancers are feeling the pinch, reporting significant losses as a result of the slow speeds.

And with the IT sector being such a critical part of Pakistan’s economy, many are demanding greater transparency from the powers that be.

Shopping
See more
More like this

Support Lovin

Loyal Lovin readers can support Lovin so we can continue to share the stories of all amazing cities

Minimum custom amount to enter is AED 2

By donating, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service