Miftah Ismail Warns of Economic Loss Due to Internet Restrictions, Criticizes Government’s Approach

Islamabad:Former Finance Minister and leader of the Awami Pakistan Party, Miftah Ismail, has expressed concerns over the ongoing internet restrictions in the country, stating that they are causing significant economic damage. He emphasized that internet bans and online trade cannot coexist.

In a conversation with a private TV channel, Miftah Ismail pointed out that the restrictions on the internet are particularly harming freelancers who rely on Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to access international contracts and job opportunities. He noted that without access to VPNs, these freelancers lose job prospects or contracts, which directly impacts their livelihood. “Two things cannot happen simultaneously—restricting the internet while also expecting to thrive in online trade,” he said.

Miftah further criticized the government for imposing internet restrictions on the youth, questioning what alternatives are being provided for employment. He argued that many young people in Pakistan, who struggle to find jobs locally, rely on freelancing opportunities online to support themselves. Those who are unable to obtain work visas often earn money by working from home through digital platforms. “If you block this opportunity as well and fail to provide any other services or jobs for the people, online trade and freelancing cannot continue,” he added.

The former finance minister also expressed frustration over the government’s failure to reduce its expenses despite promises to do so. He pointed out that the government had announced plans to reduce the number of ministries, but that objective has not been achieved. Instead, he said, the government continues to grow in size and costs without offering any meaningful services to the public. “The government seems to be running the country solely for the sake of governance, but it is not delivering any real services to the people. Instead, it has increased its own expenditures while doing nothing for the welfare of the citizens,” Miftah Ismail lamented.

He concluded by reiterating that the internet restrictions are holding back Pakistan’s digital economy and causing long-term harm to the country’s growth and development.