Pakistan ranks second globally for longest duration of internet outages in 2024

Pakistan ranked second globally in terms of internet shutdowns in 2024, according to data collected by the top 10 VPNs monitoring internet outages worldwide.

With a staggering 1,861 hours of shutdowns, Pakistan trailed only Myanmar, incurring an estimated economic loss of $350 million.

What sets Pakistan apart is the alarming rise in deceiving tactics linked to work commitments, with over 40% of the country’s nearly 83 million users contributing to this issue, exceeding all 15 most vulnerable nations.

This poses a critical challenge for Pakistan's already struggling digital economy, which is grappling with macroeconomic instability, capital shortages, and a talent deficit. 

The sharp increase in shutdown duration, from 259 hours in 2023 to 1,861 hours in 2024, marks a 619% surge, propelling Pakistan from seventh to second place globally. 

This added $114 million to the associated economic loss.

Despite contributing $3.3 billion to the national economy in 2024, second only to the textile and food sectors, the IT sector faces hurdles. 

While it consistently registers a surplus in the services category, Pakistan’s internet infrastructure remains inadequate.

The country's average download speed of 22 Mbps pales in comparison to regional counterparts such as the Philippines 97 Mbps, Bangladesh 37 Mbps, and Indonesia 31 Mbps.