Pakistan: World’s Worst Performer in Internet Access

Pakistan has been designated as the country with the worst performance in internet access across the globe. In a recent report, published by digital privacy advocate group Open Rights, showed that Pakistan has scored the lowest marks in terms of internet freedom and rights protection. The country is believed to have a high level of content censorship, and the government has been accused of monitoring its citizens online activities, including blocking and filtering certain websites.

The report evaluates 61 countries, including Pakistan, on the basis of internet speed, quality, censorship, privacy, government surveillance, and affordability. The study found that Pakistan has the slowest internet speed which is affecting the quality of experience for Internet users in Pakistan. While Pakistan is ranked only 76th regarding price, the report noted that the government’s regular blockage of internet access content has a significant impact on its citizens.

In addition to internet speed issues, many other factors – including government surveillance and censorship – have also contributed to Pakistan’s less than flattering ranking. There are a vast array of websites that are restricted by the government in Pakistan, including political, social and religious sites deemed “sensitive.”

While Pakistan has made efforts to boost internet accessibility, including Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Digital Pakistan programme promising to boost internet penetration to 70% of the population by 2025, the report highlighted that the government needs to prioritize personal freedom and protect its citizen’s online rights.

To compare, India, Pakistan’s neighbour, is ranked at 27th for internet access, reflecting a considerably better situation in areas such as freedom, affordability, and quality.

The digital divide between the individual countries in the region is a significant concern, with Pakistan, making up 4% of the population of South Asia, only accounting for 1% of the region’s web traffic, according to the study.

Furthermore, the study shows countries need to do more to address internet penetration levels across the continent, particularly in countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan, where online access is still limited.

As internet access continues to become a crucial aspect of modern life, it is more important than ever that governments recognize the significance of this medium and work to provide free and open access to their citizens. At present, Pakistan’s low ranking, and limited internet freedom and protection, is a clear indication that much more needs to be done to bridge the digital divide and provide a fair and equal platform for citizens to access the internet.