“I have to tell my clients I won’t be able to come in. It’s very hard for them to understand this because they are living in the First World,” he added, referring to highly developed and industrialised countries.
Meanwhile, typical data speeds at outsourcing firm Mars BPO, where employees’ daily work depends on quick and reliable connectivity, are now at just 40 per cent of usual capacity.
This is threatening its business survival, said lead operations manager Shah Sultan.
He added that the situation can get embarrassing when the firm has to tell clients that the internet is not working.
“The amount of foreign remittance which the IT industry is bringing into the country will be badly impacted,” he said, adding that such remittance is Pakistan’s “backbone”.
BURGEONING SECTOR
In an economy with limited employment opportunities, the services and IT sector alone accounts for more than half of the country’s jobs.
The value of Pakistan’s technology exports has increased from US$1 billion in 2018 to nearly US$2.6 billion in 2023 – a 143 per cent jump.
While the burgeoning industry is a reflection of the country’s growing reputation in the global tech market, arbitrary and frequent internet problems could shut this all down.
The Pakistan Software Houses Association, which represents IT companies, estimated that the latest disruptions could cost the national economy US$300 million.
Analysts added that in the long run, the government’s ambition of making Islamabad a thriving digital hub could be at stake.
