Internet Firewall Threatens Pakistan's Economy with $300 Million Losses

Pakistan's economy is at risk of losing up to $300 million due to internet disruptions caused by a new national firewall, according to P@SHA. The firewall aims to monitor and regulate content, though the government denies censorship allegations. Business operations and IT exports are significantly impacted.

In a critical statement issued on Thursday, the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) warned that the country's economy could suffer losses of up to $300 million due to internet disruptions attributed to the imposition of a national firewall.

Islamabad's new firewall, intended to monitor and regulate online content and social media platforms, has reportedly caused significant internet outages and disrupted VPN services. Senior Vice Chairman of P@SHA, Ali Ihsan, called this an 'aggressive assault' on the industry that could lead to a complete business meltdown.

The government denies claims of censorship, insisting the firewall is not meant for such purposes. Nevertheless, P@SHA's statement highlights the economic toll and mistrust among global IT clients, urging an immediate halt to these measures and advocating for a collaborative cybersecurity framework.

(With inputs from agencies.)