THE internet has transformed the world into a global village. It has changed the living trends, be it e-commerce or virtual interactions in real time. However, the state of internet connectivity and pricing mechanism in Pakistan tells a sad tale.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), the leading internet service provider (ISP), has repeatedly increased its tariff during the year, ranging from Rs200 to Rs500 for different categories.

On the one hand, the company cannot provide a speed beyond a certain limit in major parts of the country due to its decades-old infrastructure and technology, while, on the other hand, the subscribers are heavily taxed and overcharged for the same low-speed internet connections.

The company should introduce special incentivised packages for rural areas so that they may take maximum advantage of the internet. The Pakistan Tele-communication Authority (PTA) should take notice of such frequent tariff hike as it is one of the greatest obstacles in the prime minister’s Digital Pakistan vision.

Dr Ali Naseem Chattha
Hafizabad

Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2022