Internet services, especially social media applications are down in Pakistan as users report difficulty accessing these platforms. According to the details, all popular social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and YouTube are inaccessible to users through their mobile applications.
Furthermore, some users are also reporting trouble accessing these social media platforms via their websites. According to Downdetector, internet services started facing disruption in Pakistan around 5:00 pm and the matter has become worse with more and more users unable to access major social media platforms.
Users in major cities like Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and Multan starting reporting partial or complete internet service outage after 5:00 pm, especially with social media platforms like X, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.
While services partially recovered soon after the outage, the problem occurred once more and users are still facing similar outages. The following image shows a sharp rise in complaints regarding Twitter’s services on Downdetector:
Furthermore, NetBlocks also confirmed the internet outage in Pakistan, sharing live metrics showing a “nation-scale disruption to social media platforms across Pakistan,”
⚠️ Confirmed: Live metrics show a nation-scale disruption to social media platforms across #Pakistan, including X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube; the incident comes as persecuted former PM Imran Khan's party, PTI, launches its election fundraising telethon pic.twitter.com/QIBGcxGty3
— NetBlocks (@netblocks) January 7, 2024
However, the reason behind the internet outage is is unclear as Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has not issued a statement on the matter.