QUETTA – In response to elevated security threats, mobile internet services have been suspended across Balochistan, including the provincial capital and several remote districts. The blackout, initiated as a preventive security measure, is expected to last for one full week, according to official sources.
The suspension has affected both urban and rural populations. Reports from Kohlu, Loralai, Dukki, and Sibi indicate that mobile users are facing significant disruptions in accessing digital services, including banking, communications, and online education platforms.
Security agencies, citing intelligence alerts, have implemented the measure to counter potential threats. While the specific nature of the threats remains undisclosed, such digital blackouts are not uncommon in Pakistan during times of increased political tension or national events.
Balochistan, the country’s largest province by area, has long experienced challenges related to security and infrastructure. Authorities argue that internet suspension in sensitive regions helps curb the coordination of unlawful activities, particularly when there’s evidence of an imminent threat.
However, digital rights activists have raised concerns over the repeated use of internet shutdowns as a control mechanism, warning that it disproportionately impacts marginalized communities and affects access to information and public services.
Despite the inconvenience, government officials emphasize that public safety remains the top priority and that connectivity will be restored as soon as the threat level subsides.
