provinceMobile data
Sindh
May 12, 2026 → May 13, 2026
12 hr
PTA directive citing public order requirements ahead of cabinet vote
Affected: 51M peopleEst. cost: $8.4MOperators: Jazz, Zong, Telenor, UfoneSources: PTA Directive 05-2026, NetBlocks
Live tracker · Updated 2026-05-15
Pakistan Internet Outage Tracker
Real-time status, verified historical events, and economic cost estimates. Built for builders, freelancers, and journalists who need to know what's actually working.
Active disruption
1 ongoing event affecting Pakistani users
- Pakistan: PTA VPN registration enforcement; unregistered commercial VPNs throttled (since Nov 1, 2025)
Disruptions in last 12 months
11
Verified shutdowns and throttles
Total hours offline
81+
Across all affected regions
Estimated economic cost
$63.5M
Internet Society NetLoss methodology
Filter
Showing 11 of 11 verified events
nationwideSocial media
Pakistan
Feb 8, 2026 → Apr 15, 2026
—
PTA throttling of X (formerly Twitter) at the IX level; no formal order published
Lifted following Islamabad High Court intervention
provinceMobile data
Punjab
Feb 3, 2026 → Feb 4, 2026
12 hr
Provincial government request, security-related
provinceMobile data
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Jan 22, 2026 → Jan 22, 2026
7 hr
Localised security operation in Peshawar district
nationwideMobile dataSocial media
Pakistan
Dec 15, 2025 → Dec 15, 2025
8 hr
Political rally; no formal order
Affected: 240M peopleEst. cost: $12.4MOperators: All operatorsSources: NetBlocks, Internet Society NetLoss
nationwide · ongoingVoIP / calls
Pakistan
Nov 1, 2025
—
PTA VPN registration enforcement; unregistered commercial VPNs throttled
Affects WhatsApp voice and video calls intermittently for users on unregistered VPNs
provinceMobile data
Balochistan
Oct 10, 2025 → Oct 10, 2025
12 hr
Security operation
cityMobile data
Karachi
Sep 25, 2025 → Sep 25, 2025
8 hr
Local protest, mobile data suspended
nationwideSocial media
Pakistan
Aug 12, 2025 → Sep 10, 2025
—
Facebook throttling during election dispute period
cityMobile data
Islamabad · Rawalpindi
Jul 8, 2025 → Jul 9, 2025
12 hr
Twin cities security cordon
provinceMobile data
Sindh
Jun 15, 2025 → Jun 16, 2025
10 hr
Provincial security directive
Events are verified against at least two independent sources before being added: NetBlocks measurement data, Cloudflare Radar traffic anomalies, PTA notifications where published, and confirmed reports from operator staff. Economic cost estimates use the Internet Society NetLoss methodology adjusted for Pakistan's 2026 GDP figures.
How this tracker works
The live status indicator at the top of the page reflects whether we currently have any verified disruption events on file. When something happens, we cross-check with at least two independent sources before flipping the indicator and adding the event to the timeline. The bar is intentionally high: rumour and confirmed shutdown are very different things, and getting it right matters more than being first.
Our sources
- NetBlocks: Network measurement data showing traffic drops at the IX level.
- Cloudflare Radar:Traffic anomaly detection across CF's Pakistan POPs.
- PTA notifications: Official directives when published, which is not always.
- Operator staff: On-background reports from employees at Jazz, Zong, Telenor, and Ufone.
- Reader reports: Verified before publication.
Frequently asked questions
Is the internet down in Pakistan right now?
Check the live status panel at the top of this page. The indicator shows green when all major services are operating normally and red when there is an active disruption we've verified. We update within minutes of confirmation from at least two independent sources.
Why does Pakistan have so many internet shutdowns?
Pakistan has had eleven province-wide or city-wide mobile data shutdowns since November 2024. Most are ordered by the PTA citing public order or security requirements, often tied to political events, court rulings, or protests. Pakistan's Digital Rights Foundation maintains the longer history; this tracker focuses on shutdowns that affect digital workers, businesses, and consumers.
How do you measure the economic cost of a shutdown?
We use the Internet Society's NetLoss calculator methodology adjusted for Pakistan's 2026 GDP. A single hour of nationwide mobile data shutdown costs the economy approximately $1.55 million in lost productivity, e-commerce, and freelance income. Provincial shutdowns scale proportionally to that province's GDP share. These figures are conservative and don't include indirect costs like missed deadlines or contract penalties.
How can I keep working during a shutdown?
Wired broadband from PTCL, StormFiber, Nayatel, and Transworld typically continues to function during mobile data shutdowns. International SIM cards from Gulf operators roaming in Pakistan also continue to work but at international rates. Consumer VPNs like Cloudflare WARP can help with throttling but cannot circumvent a hard shutdown that suspends the cellular service entirely.
How do I report an outage you haven't listed?
Email faizan@cubitrek.com with the location, time the outage began, services affected, and any screenshots of NetBlocks alerts or status pages. We verify against at least two independent sources before listing.
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