Qaseem Shah:Â
QUETTA: Mobile phone and internet services were suddenly suspended in Quetta on Sunday, disrupting daily life across the provincial capital and leaving students, healthcare workers, businesses, journalists and thousands of ordinary residents struggling to stay connected.
The unexpected internet shutdown in Quetta affected people who depend on mobile networks and internet services for education, healthcare, business, journalism, food delivery and communication with family members.
Students were among the worst affected, with many unable to attend online classes, access study material or communicate with teachers and classmates. Medical professionals also faced difficulties coordinating with colleagues and patients, raising concerns about communication during emergencies.
Businesses and traders reported disruptions to their routine operations, including communication with customers, online transactions and digital services. Food-delivery workers also struggled to receive orders and contact customers because of the loss of mobile connectivity.
Journalists in Quetta faced additional challenges in gathering information, contacting sources and transmitting news from the field. For news organisations increasingly dependent on digital platforms, the outage created significant obstacles to timely reporting.
For ordinary citizens, the suspension meant something more basic but equally important: they could not easily speak to their families and loved ones.
People trying to check on relatives, arrange transport, contact colleagues or seek assistance were left without reliable communication. In a city where mobile phones have become essential for almost every aspect of daily life, the sudden shutdown created widespread frustration and uncertainty.
Sources within the Pakistan government said mobile and internet services were suspended because of security threats in Quetta and as a precautionary measure to prevent any untoward incident. Authorities did not immediately announce how long the services would remain suspended.
While security concerns can require temporary restrictions, residents have called for timely information about such measures and the restoration of connectivity as soon as the security situation improves.
The Quetta internet shutdown has once again highlighted how heavily residents depend on digital connectivity—not only for social media and entertainment, but also for education, healthcare, commerce, journalism, food delivery and essential communication.
For thousands of people, the outage was more than an inconvenience. It meant being temporarily cut off from the people and services they rely on every day.
