The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government is considering reaching out to tech mogul Elon Musk to address severe slowdowns in internet speeds affecting the region. Shafqat Ayaz, the Special Assistant to the KP Chief Minister, revealed that the provincial government is also exploring other avenues to resolve the issue, as the IT sector has been significantly impacted. “There is an internet issue in KP, but the reasons behind it remain unclear,” Ayaz stated.
The internet crisis in Pakistan has persisted for months, with authorities frequently attributing the disruptions to faults in submarine cables. Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, confirmed that his satellite internet service, Starlink, is awaiting approval from the Pakistani government. Musk made the announcement on his official X account, stating, “We are waiting for approval from the government.”
This came after a conversation with Pakistani social media activist Sanam Jamali, who urged Musk to expedite Starlink’s launch in the country.
Kp explores internet solutions with Musk
Jamali emphasized that millions of people in Pakistan are eager for the connectivity, educational opportunities, and economic growth that Starlink could provide. Pakistan’s Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, also confirmed that the government has been in talks with Starlink to bring its services to Pakistan.
During a Senate Standing Committee meeting on IT and Telecommunication, Khawaja assured that discussions are ongoing to introduce Starlink’s satellite-based internet services to the country. As millions of Pakistanis continue to struggle with unreliable internet, Starlink’s potential launch could offer a much-needed solution. The satellite technology would provide stable, high-speed internet, bypassing the issues with terrestrial infrastructure.
The KP government’s efforts to engage with Elon Musk and other experts highlight the urgency felt by Pakistani authorities to resolve the persistent internet disruptions affecting the nation. With the IT sector bearing the brunt of the slowdowns, finding a solution has become a top priority for the provincial government.
