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Pakistan's South Waziristan Faces 2-Month Mobile, Internet Blackout Crisis

Residents of Lower South Waziristan in Pakistan have endured mobile network disruptions and prolonged internet outages for two months, severely impacting daily life. The outages have crippled communication, hindered students' education, and caused financial losses for local businesses. Areas like Wana, Birmal, Sholam, and Spin are among the most affected, with services frequently weak or completely unavailable. Affected communities are urgently calling on the federal government and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to restore services.

Key Points: South Waziristan Mobile Network, Internet Outages Hit Residents

  • Mobile signals weak or unavailable
  • Internet suspended for extended periods
  • Students unable to access online classes
  • Business community suffers financial losses
  • Journalists' reporting capabilities hampered
2 min read

Pakistan: South Waziristan residents face mobile network disruptions, internet outages

Residents of Lower South Waziristan face two months of mobile network disruptions and internet outages, crippling daily life, education, and business.

"connectivity in this era is considered a basic necessity - Local residents"

Islamabad, March 29

Residents of Lower South Waziristan in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been facing difficulties for the past two months due to mobile network disruptions and prolonged internet outages in several areas, local media reported on Sunday.

Users of major telecom operators have said that they were facing persistent signal issues and frequent internet shutdowns, disrupting communication and access to essential online services. The situation has affected people from all walks of life, including journalists, traders, business owners and students, as they depend on digital connectivity for their daily activities, Pakistani daily Dawn reported.

On Saturday, local members of the Wazir tribe said that mobile signals in parts of Wana and Birmal tehsils have remained weak or completely unavailable for the past few weeks. They mentioned that internet services also remain suspended for extended periods.

The most impacted regions include Sholam, Spin, Tanai, Azam Warsak, Ghowa Khowah, Dabkot, and Raghzai, where residents are facing issues in making phone calls, sending messages or using online platforms. Many users have termed the situation unprecedented, as connectivity in this era is considered a basic necessity.

Residents have said that the ongoing mobile disruption has impacted their routine lives. Students have expressed concern over the inability to attend online classes, complete assignments, or use academic resources, which they fear may impact their educational progress.

Similarly, members of the business community and trade associations have said that they suffered financial losses due to the breakdown in communication channels, Dawn reported.

Journalists have also reported that limited access to communication tools has affected timely reporting and information gathering.

Residents of the impacted regions have urged the federal government and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to ensure the restoration of mobile and internet services on an emergency basis.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
While I sympathize with the residents, especially the students and traders, we in India should appreciate our relatively stable telecom infrastructure. We have our issues, but such prolonged, widespread outages are rare. Jio and Airtel have really connected the hinterlands.
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Aman W
Two months is a very long time. It makes you wonder if this is just a technical fault or something else. Communication blackouts in sensitive border regions are often not accidental. Feel for the locals who are caught in the middle.
S
Sarah B
The impact on journalists is concerning. Without proper communication, how can they report accurately? This creates an information vacuum. A free press needs reliable tools to function.
K
Karthik V
Basic connectivity should be a right. This is a governance failure, plain and simple. The PTA should be held accountable. In our digital India push, we've seen how crucial it is to keep people connected, especially in remote areas. Their government needs to act.
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Nisha Z
It's the small business owners and traders I feel for the most. In this economy, losing communication means losing customers and payments. Financial losses for them can be devastating. Hope it gets fixed on a war footing. 🙏

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