Pakistan'S Costly Internet Firewall Project Criticized For Inefficiency

In a significant development, Pakistan's ambitious nationwide internet firewall project, launched in 2024, has been deemed a costly failure by authorities, who now recognize it as an economic and operational burden. Initially intended to enhance cybersecurity and regulate harmful online content, the project has faced mounting criticism for its inefficiency and high costs, totaling approximately Rs. 40 billion. The Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) warned that the firewall could disrupt internet stability and potentially cost the economy hundreds of millions of dollars. As reported by The Financial Daily, officials justified the expenditure as a long-term investment in national digital sovereignty, but the lack of adequate compatibility checks with existing infrastructure has raised serious concerns about its feasibility and effectiveness. Critics have pointed out that the initiative overlapped inefficiently with existing content filtering mechanisms, highlighting governance and technology policy challenges in Pakistan's digital landscape.