Pakistanis in tech sector struggle to work amid unreliable internet connectivity

ISLAMABAD: Brothers Shiraz and Shayaan Akhtar both quit their corporate jobs four years ago to enter the world of online freelancing.

They offer telemarketing and business development services to clients worldwide, charging in US dollars as sky-high inflation in Pakistan has eroded earnings in the local rupee.

"When I was working … in Pakistan corporate (life), the uncertainty was too much. The workload was too much,” said Shiraz.

“The return of the salary was way too (little) and you are just anxious.”

However, the siblings’ careers now appear to be in jeopardy from frequent internet disruptions and slowdowns in the country that began in August. They are among millions of Pakistanis affected by connectivity problems. 

WHAT IS BEHIND THE DISRUPTION?

According to local media reports, these latest issues stem from a government-imposed "national firewall", which is aimed at regulating and monitoring online content.

Authorities have denied using the firewall for censorship, saying its purpose is to act as a form of cybersecurity against anti-state propaganda.

The government has, however, previously carried out targeted shutdowns and blocked sites, citing national security concerns. 

This includes an internet crackdown ahead of the parliamentary election on Feb 8 earlier this year, which saw social media platform X being banned. The ban remains in place.

To get around such restrictions, many Pakistanis have turned to virtual private networks (VPNs). 

Islamabad blames the latest slowdown on excessive VPN use by citizens, but experts disagree. 

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority also said it has discovered faults in two of the seven undersea cables connecting Pakistan to the global network.

Authorities expect the disruption to last until October.

PAKISTANIS AFFECTED BY INTERNET DISRUPTIONS

Shiraz and Shayaan fear losing work and potential international clients on Upwork, a freelancing platform they rely on. The country is home to the world's third-largest base of online freelancers.

Shayaan has already lost at least one potential client due to internet issues, while Shiraz said he experiences disruptions more frequently during peak hours.

“I have to change my hours; I have to work all night. I am affected quite a lot,” he said. 

“I have to tell my clients I won't be able to come in. It's very hard for them to understand this because they are living in the First World,” he added, referring to highly developed and industrialised countries.

Meanwhile, typical data speeds at outsourcing firm Mars BPO, where employees’ daily work depends on quick and reliable connectivity, are now at just 40 per cent of usual capacity.

This is threatening its business survival, said lead operations manager Shah Sultan. 

He added that the situation can get embarrassing when the firm has to tell clients that the internet is not working.

"The amount of foreign remittance which the IT industry is bringing into the country will be badly impacted,” he said, adding that such remittance is Pakistan’s “backbone”.

BURGEONING SECTOR

In an economy with limited employment opportunities, the services and IT sector alone accounts for more than half of the country's jobs.

The value of Pakistan’s technology exports has increased from US$1 billion in 2018 to nearly US$2.6 billion in 2023 - a 143 per cent jump. 

While the burgeoning industry is a reflection of the country's growing reputation in the global tech market, arbitrary and frequent internet problems could shut this all down.

The Pakistan Software Houses Association, which represents IT companies, estimated that the latest disruptions could cost the national economy US$300 million. 

Analysts added that in the long run, the government's ambition of making Islamabad a thriving digital hub could be at stake.