ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) users experienced a massive internet outage on Tuesday evening, leaving millions without stable connectivity across the country.
The disruption also affected other Internet Service Providers (ISPs), causing widespread complaints from individuals and businesses that rely heavily on online services.
Reports poured in from Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and Peshawar, where users faced either a complete blackout of services or severe slowdowns. The sudden outage sparked frustration among subscribers, with many turning to social media to highlight the scale of the problem.
Although the precise cause of the disruption remains unclear, industry experts believe that such large-scale issues are often linked to problems in the national fiber backbone or international submarine cable systems that Pakistan depends on for global connectivity.
In an official statement, a PTCL spokesperson confirmed the breakdown, stating: “We are currently facing data connectivity challenges on our PTCL and Ufone services. Our technical teams are working tirelessly to restore normal operations as soon as possible. We regret the inconvenience caused to our valued customers.”
Sources further suggested that the disruption may have stemmed from an upstream service provider, which in turn affected multiple ISPs simultaneously.
This is not the first time PTCL has faced such challenges. As Pakistan’s largest internet backbone operator, the company plays a central role in ensuring nationwide connectivity, making any outage a matter of national concern. Businesses, banks, and educational institutions reported serious disruptions in their operations, underscoring the urgent need for infrastructure resilience.