Islamabad, Sep 14: Pakistan’s increasing frequency of internet shutdowns is taking a significant toll on the nation’s economy, particularly affecting businesses that transitioned to online operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The latest report from the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) puts these losses into perspective.
These disruptions have serious economic repercussions; Internet Shutdowns alone cause a direct loss to the nation’s GDP of 0.57%, or Rs 1.3 billion. Including indirect losses raises the estimated overall economic impact to Rs. 1.7 billion (expected for 2023).
Internet access is essential for upgrading public services through digital public infrastructure (DPI) and empowering companies to participate in the global market in developing countries like Pakistan.
But recent events imply that Pakistan’s efforts to undergo a digital revolution may be backfiring. According to reports, a significant internet outage in August 2023 cost e-commerce companies 30% of their earnings.
Speaking of limited internet access, recent data reveals that over 58% of Pakistan’s population has access to mobile internet networks but has not yet subscribed to these services.
