ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has addressed concerns over ongoing disruptions in WhatsApp services across the country, attributing the issues to a possible “technical glitch.”
Since July 20, a significant number of users in Pakistan have reported difficulties with sending and receiving media files, such as voice notes, photos, and videos, through WhatsApp while using mobile networks. These issues have included delays in media downloads and error messages encountered by users attempting to use the popular messaging application.
Global monitoring platform Downdetector has continued to receive reports of WhatsApp outages in Pakistan over the past 24 hours.
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Talking to a local private news channel, representatives from two major telecom operators confirmed the existence of the issue and asserted that no problems were originating from their networks.
Malahat Obaid, spokesperson for the PTA, downplayed concerns over WhatsApp’s functionality and other social media applications, attributing any disruptions to a technical glitch. However, specifics regarding the nature of this glitch were not disclosed.
Meanwhile, Usama Khilji, director of Bolo Bhi, an advocacy forum for digital rights in Pakistan, suggested that the disruptions might be connected to the installation of a government firewall aimed at enhancing control over internet and communication technologies.
The PTA and telecommunications companies are investigating the matter to ensure uninterrupted services for the 52.3 million WhatsApp users in Pakistan, according to the World Population Review.
