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Pakistan stands at a critical juncture in its digital journey. Once celebrated for our IT expertise and highly regarded for collaboration, our professionals are now facing growing warnings and disclaimers from international partners. While each government has articulated ambitious goals to strengthen the country’s position in the global digital economy, recent policy decisions risk derailing these aspirations. Among these, the ban on X (formerly Twitter), the throttling of the Internet, complete Internet shut downs and now bans on Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have caused significant concern. Ironically, this latest measure coincided with the Council of Islamic Ideology declaring VPNs “un-Islamic,” further complicating the narrative. At a time when Pakistan should be championing digital inclusivity and innovation, these policies are creating barriers to progress and growth.

In recent years, our country’s digital sector has demonstrated remarkable growth. Pakistan’s IT exports grew by 143 percent from $1 billion in 2018 to $2.6 billion in 2023, underscoring the potential of this sector to drive economic development. Yet, frequent disruptions in Internet services and the banning of social media platforms have jeopardized this momentum. According to the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, a 24-hour Internet shutdown costs the economy PKR 1.3 billion— equivalent to 0.57 percent of the daily GDP. The cumulative losses from Internet restrictions in 2023 alone amounted to PKR 65 billion ($237.6........

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