By Zainab Shafiq 
WhatsApp disruption or social media blockage has now become common in almost every part of Pakistan. Recently, many users have been complaining about the failure to download audio, video messages, and pictures. Error messages warned, “Couldn’t download the document. Try again. If the problem keeps happening, try connecting to Wi-Fi.” It is not affecting WhatsApp alone; other such media applications are also experiencing the same problem here in the country.
The PTA has also acknowledged these disruptions but downgraded the situation by calling it a “technical glitch.” The PTA has yet to confirm any wide-scale outages or specify exactly the cause of the interruptions. This uncertainty raises concerns for Pakistan’s huge user base of approximately 52.3 million, for whom WhatsApp would turn out to be one of the foremost communication tools in use, according to a report from World Population Review 2024.
Service disruptions inconvenienced users a lot in a country where WhatsApp is not only used for personal communication but also for the day-to-day business communications. The incident brought to memory a similar incident in April 2024 when Pakistan faced severe internet disruptions over damage to a fiber optic cable linking Singapore to Pakistan and Europe. Although the PTA has not formally connected the current issue with the April event, the parallels are unnerving for users.
Although the PTA has not formally linked the present issue with the April event, the parallels are unnerving for users.
Users have been advised to at least attempt to reconnect to Wi-Fi or wait out the issue amidst the current disruptions. The situation remains fluid, with both users and the PTA closely monitoring for further developments.
Also, see:
Realme C53 Price in Pakistan with Features & Specifications – August 2024