Telecom operators have rejected reports claiming that a government-installed firewall had been shut down, calling the claims baseless and inaccurate.
The reports, which spread on social media and were later picked up by some media outlets, suggested that the government had disabled a firewall system allegedly used to monitor online platforms after it failed to achieve its objectives.
However, telecom operators said they had not received any official instructions from the government to disable any such system. They confirmed that the relevant infrastructure on their networks remains fully operational.
Officials from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority also clarified that the regulator does not operate any firewall. They explained that what exists is a Web Management System that has been in place for nearly two decades. The system is used to control grey traffic and block unlawful online content as part of regular regulatory practices.
According to PTA officials, the Web Management System continues to function normally and has not been shut down. They stressed that there has been no change in the system’s operational status.
The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication has not issued any official statement confirming or denying the circulating reports. However, sources familiar with the matter said the firewall infrastructure was installed at the operators’ level, and therefore their confirmation about its operational status should be considered reliable.
The clarification comes at a time when public debate around internet governance and content regulation has intensified. Despite online speculation, both telecom operators and regulatory authorities have maintained that no government-installed firewall has been disabled.
