Regional shutdown
Mobile Internet Services
Islamabad and Rawalpindi
Local authorities ordered Internet Service Providers to suspend mobile data services in Islamabad and Rawalpindi on 18 March as part of actions to quell civil unrest during a planned protest in the region. Internet shutdowns during protests or civil unrest impact citizens' ability to get accurate information from government sources when they need it most. It also becomes harder for citizens to contact family members and friends in other parts of the country or other countries.
- Total Duration 1 hour
Pakistan
- Population
- 247,504,495
Freedom House rates Internet freedom as Not Free
Local impact
Local authorities ordered Internet Service Providers to suspend mobile data services in Islamabad and Rawalpindi on 18 March as part of actions to quell civil unrest during a planned protest in the region. Internet shutdowns during protests or civil unrest impact citizens' ability to get accurate information from government sources when they need it most. It also becomes harder for citizens to contact family members and friends in other parts of the country or other countries.
Related documentation
No official cause documentation was made public. An internal communication from a local Internet service provider, Ufone, was published noting the reason for the shutdown per government orders.
Other supporting information
It’s difficult to measure the effect of local/regional Internet shutdowns as most measurements are done at a country level. Learn more