‘Internet shutdowns cost Pakistan Rs1.3b in direct loss’
PESHAWAR: In a recent study conducted by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), alarming findings have surfaced, shedding light on the profound economic consequences of internet shutdowns in Pakistan. The study, titled "The Economic Cost of Internet Closure," reveals the toll such disruptions take on the nation's economy. PIDE estimates indicate that a 24-hour closure of internet services results in a direct loss of Rs1.3 billion, equivalent to a 0.57 per cent of the daily GDP average for the country. According to Dr Nadeemul Haque, Vice Chancellor of PIDE and Mohammad Shaaf Najib, Research Fellow at PIDE, the internet has become a fundamental necessity in modern times. However, despite its growing importance, Pakistan's internet infrastructure lags behind in terms of both quality and coverage, highlighting the need for substantial improvements. Key findings of the study Online cab services, a cornerstone of modern transportation, experience...