Internet services in parts of Balochistan remain suspended, with Mastung and Khuzdar residents voicing frustration after two months of disruption despite earlier government assurances of restoration.
In Mastung, mobile internet was briefly restored on 1 September, raising hopes that services would return permanently following the provincial government’s 31 August cutoff for suspensions. However, access was blocked again within hours, leaving residents angry and disheartened.
Students say they are bearing the heaviest burden. “Our future is at stake. We cannot even apply for universities or scholarships without the internet,” a student leader from the Mastung Students Forum said. Many report missing online classes and losing access to admission and scholarship portals.
The shutdown has also disrupted online banking, job applications and other essential services. Residents warn that the blackout is damaging not only education but also the social and economic fabric of the region.
In Khuzdar, a similar situation has unfolded. Although provincial authorities had said mobile internet would remain suspended only through August, services were not restored as promised. Residents said connections returned briefly for about an hour on 1 September before being cut off again. Some users said they had purchased prepaid data packages during that short period, only to lose money when access was terminated.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) suspended mobile internet in several districts earlier on orders of the provincial government, citing security concerns. However, as September begins, large parts of Balochistan remain cut off despite the official suspension period ending.
The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) condemned what it called ongoing repression in Balochistan, including enforced disappearances, harassment at checkpoints and the suspension of data networks. In a statement, it said communication blackouts were being used to “conceal crimes” by state forces and appealed to international organisations to hold Pakistan accountable.
Civil society groups and citizens in both Khuzdar and Mastung have urged the authorities to restore connectivity without delay, warning that the blackout is inflicting long-term harm on education, business and daily life.