Damage survey

We have become dependent on the internet to the extent that if it suddenly disappears, it is hard to get on with our lives. Apart from personal inconvenience, internet outages severely undermine the economy and critical services. Given the recent issues with the internet, Pakistanis are learning firsthand what living without reliable internet is like. The slow internet has harmed tech companies and freelancers, impacting our economy.

Ordinary people are also very frustrated as even basic things like sending pictures or downloading voice notes has become a problem. We cannot live well if the internet is not working well. Forget competing with other countries, just surviving will become quite difficult. The authorities should try to solve this issue immediately.

By Iffa Naseer

Rawalpindi

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I am a virtual university student who also does remote work for firms in the US while pursuing online courses in copywriting and freelancing. I mention this to highlight how heavily an average Pakistani depends on the internet. While countries like India and China, which gained independence around the same time as us, are reaching new heights of development, we are still struggling for something as basic as internet access. It is a shame. As a nation, we remain paralyzed, watching our decline in silence, while those in power make the nation’s survival even harder.

The Pakistani people are yearning for prosperity but hope feels distant. This is not just an inconvenience but a symbol of our decline as a nation. The time for action is long overdue, yet we remain numb, watching our country slip further into despair. I urge policymakers to prioritize the enhancement of essential services like internet access. It is time for decisive action to foster the development our nation desperately needs

Aafia Javed

Karachi