P@SHA Warns of $300 Million Losses from Firewall

The Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) has warned that the country's economy could lose up to $300 million due to disruptions caused by a newly imposed national firewall aimed at monitoring online content and social media. Senior Vice Chairman Ali Ihsan described the firewall as a 'direct, tangible, and aggressive assault' on the IT industry's viability, leading to significant internet outages and erratic VPN performance. The government denies allegations of censorship, stating the firewall is not intended for such purposes, yet it has already blocked access to the social media platform X since the February elections. Rights activists contend that this blocking is aimed at stifling dissent and undermining democratic accountability. P@SHA has called for an immediate halt to the firewall's implementation and urged the government to engage with the industry to establish a transparent cybersecurity framework. The overall lack of transparency surrounding the firewall has heightened fears regarding data privacy and the future of foreign investment in Pakistan's burgeoning IT sector.