QUETTA: Mobile phone and internet services across several districts of Balochistan will be restored after 9 p.m. on Saturday, ending a 27-hour suspension imposed over security concerns during Eid Milad-un-Nabi.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) suspended 3G, 4G, and broadband services at the request of the provincial Home Department, which cited public safety concerns. The blackout began at 6 p.m. on September 5 and affected Quetta, Mastung, Sibi, Noshki, and Khuzdar. PTCL and NTC connections were also restricted, though official and whitelisted numbers remained exempt.
Officials said the temporary shutdown aimed to prevent “untoward or illegal incidents” during the religious celebrations.
Public frustration
Residents expressed anger over the disruption. Arian Hassan, a student at the University of Balochistan, said, “The world is moving forward, but here the internet is shut down in the name of security. Education is now online—if the internet is blocked, how can we study?”
Delivery worker Dawood Ahmed added that the blackout threatened his livelihood. “My income depends on online orders. If there’s no internet, I don’t earn,” he said.
Balochistan has faced repeated shutdowns in recent months. On August 6, mobile internet was suspended across the province, sparking protests. The Balochistan High Court later ordered authorities to restore services in Quetta, stressing that citizens’ fundamental rights must be protected.
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Civil society groups and consumer associations have urged the government to explore alternatives to blanket shutdowns, warning that such measures disrupt education, commerce, and daily life.
