Regional shutdown
Facebook, Instagram
Punjab
Data and reports show that mobile Internet has been shut down in parts of Pakistan's Punjab region during the religious festival of Muharram. Media reports state that mobile services include not only mobile Internet but network calls and SMS texts with a focus in specific areas along procession routes and venues hosting religious gatherings (majalis). These events follow the Punjab government's request to suspended mobile Internet services and popular social media services from 13 to 17 July. Reports suggest that mobile Internet services were already partially suspended on Sunday 14 July in certain areas of Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Jhang, Bahawalpur, and Bahawalnagar.
- Total Duration 1 day
Pakistan
- Population
- 247,504,495
Freedom House rates Internet freedom as Not Free
Local impact
Data and reports show that mobile Internet has been shut down in parts of Pakistan's Punjab region during the religious festival of Muharram. Media reports state that mobile services include not only mobile Internet but network calls and SMS texts with a focus in specific areas along procession routes and venues hosting religious gatherings (majalis). These events follow the Punjab government's request to suspended mobile Internet services and popular social media services from 13 to 17 July. Reports suggest that mobile Internet services were already partially suspended on Sunday 14 July in certain areas of Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Jhang, Bahawalpur, and Bahawalnagar.
Other supporting information
It’s difficult to measure the effect of local/regional Internet shutdowns as most measurements are done at a country level. However, as this event is happening in other provinces in Pakistan, there are noticeable drops in Internet traffic and anomalies in Internet services.
Google Transparency Report shows a decrease in regular traffic to Google Web Search between 16 and 17 July.
The OONI Web Connectivity Test also shows that on 17 July, most measurements for www.facebook.com and www.instagram.com resulted in anomalies (signals of potential censorship). Note access to X (formerly Twitter) has been compromised for some time in Pakistan.
OONI data also suggest that since 17 July, there have been connectivity anomalies and failures for Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp (both owned by Facebook and Instagram's parent company, Meta). However, it is difficult to confirm these blocking events with confidence, given the regional focus of the shutdown and blocking event.
Note that access to Telegram in Pakistan has been compromised for some time, though there have been a similar number of failures as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger tests since 18 July.
Social media
