The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication has informed a Senate sub-committee that Pakistan currently has no specific law that expressly declares internet connectivity an essential service, though it acknowledged that internet access has become vital for governance, commerce, education, healthcare and national development.
In a written brief submitted to the sub-committee of the Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecommunication, the ministry said any move to grant internet connectivity the status of an essential service would require legislative amendments, regulatory reforms and extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders.
The submission came after the sub-committee recommended including internet connectivity in Pakistan’s Essential Services framework and asked the ministry to examine the proposal from legal, policy and operational perspectives, including whether changes in law would be needed.
The ministry said internet connectivity has evolved far beyond a communication tool and now functions as critical national infrastructure. It said the internet supports digital government services, banking and financial transactions, digital payments, e-commerce, education, research, telemedicine, disaster management, business continuity, freelancing and public access to information.
It warned that disruptions to internet services can carry serious economic, administrative and social consequences.
Reviewing the existing legal framework, the ministry said neither the Constitution nor the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) Act, 1996, explicitly recognises internet connectivity as an essential service. While the Constitution guarantees fundamental rights including freedom of speech, access to information and the right to conduct lawful business, it does not specifically recognise internet access as a constitutional right, the brief said.
The ministry noted that existing Essential Services laws currently cover sectors such as electricity, gas, water supply, health services and transport, but do not include internet connectivity.
It also identified several potential advantages of granting internet connectivity essential service status. These include ensuring uninterrupted digital public services, protecting digital financial systems, strengthening investor confidence, supporting education and healthcare, improving emergency response, enabling uninterrupted digital commerce and increasing the resilience of Pakistan’s telecommunications infrastructure.
At the same time, the ministry said significant legal, operational and financial issues would need to be resolved before such a step could be taken. It said the state must retain the authority to impose temporary internet restrictions in extraordinary situations related to national security, public order or emergency management.
According to the ministry, any future legislation would need to clearly define the scope of internet connectivity, spell out the responsibilities of service providers, establish continuity obligations, specify permissible exceptions and create regulatory oversight mechanisms.
It added that implementation could require major investment by telecom operators in network redundancy, disaster recovery systems, cybersecurity improvements, emergency restoration plans and minimum service availability standards.
In its assessment, the ministry said internet connectivity has many characteristics of an essential public utility. However, it said any decision to formally grant such status should be backed by proper legislation, regulatory measures and institutional arrangements.
The ministry further said consultations would be needed with the ministries of law, interior and defence, as well as the PTA, PKCERT, NTC, telecom operators, provincial governments and other stakeholders to ensure service continuity while maintaining a balance between public interest and national security considerations.
