Facebook, other social media apps gradually getting restored

ISLSMABAD: The social media apps Twitter, YouTube, Facebook are gradually getting restored across Pakistan, ARY News reported.

پاکستان میں سوشل میڈیا سائٹس کھلنے کا عمل شروع#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/7d68GtGqks

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) May 15, 2023

The PTA had suspended internet services and restricted access to Twitter, Facebook and YouTube on the interior ministry’s instructions in the wake of violent protests sparked by PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s arrest.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had partially restored mobile internet services were across Pakistan after more than 72 hours of shutdown but social media apps were not working properly.

After six days, the social media apps, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook have started restoring across Pakistan gradually.

It is pertinent to mention here that the suspension of mobile broadband internet services has resulted in loss of Rs2.49 billion to Pakistan’s telecom sector.

The government generates revenue of Rs280 million from mobile broadband services on a daily basis and the suspension of the services has caused a loss of almost Rs860 million to the government.

The suspension is affecting e-commerce, online services, home delivery and ride-hailing apps too. In Islamabad and Rawalpindi, nearly 150,000 bike riders have been affected due to the suspension of the broadband internet facility.

The decision to shut down mobile internet services was criticised by many human rights activists and journalists, who said that it is a violation of the right to freedom of expression and access to information.