The ongoing implementation of the National Firewall System (NFS) and Web Management System (WMS) by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework to oversee over-the-top (OTT) services has grabbed media headlines owing to a mélange of reasons worth considering. Prima facie, the initiative aims to regulate a vast array of communication and application services, besides monitoring social media platforms, non-broadcasting, and Video-on-Demand (VOD) services, along with e-commerce platforms and online gaming services. The new framework also requires all media stakeholders and online companies to comply with local laws, register, and obtain designated authorities’ licenses.
In the initial stage of its implementation and upgradation, the intent behind the entire exercise merits appreciation since Pakistan is one of those countries grappling with the menace of terrorism and an incessant flurry of Fifth-Generation War tactics, e.g., covert cyber operations, the dissemination of propaganda, social media manipulation, and the rest of the digital and cyberterrorism maneuvers. In such a war-like condition, when various enemy entities are busy executing their nefarious actions to incite instability, undermine government institutions, and exploit societal fault lines across the country, such inevitable measures must be strictly enforced on a war footing. Those opposing the move in the name of individual freedom and rights to individuals cannot disregard the urgency of the matter facing the country. Above all, the universal sense of individual freedom is hinged on the primary conditions of a responsible display of personal liberty that obliges every society member to behave maturely and conduct oneself morally. This is not merely the prime responsibility of the state as the citizenry en masse is equally responsible for preserving law and order. Therefore, it is high time for the digital community and people at large to play their inevitable part in rendering the exercise a widespread acceptance, as nothing reigns supreme over the country’s sovereignty and protection from all sorts of internal and external threats.
However, this should not be done at the expense of business growth and the common good. As things have turned out during the early stages of the NFS and WMS installations aimed at speeding down the internet speed and blocking certain websites and apps, the entire online community faced severe disruptions in internet connectivity and rapid communication flow, which, consequently, severely interrupted online business operations, resulting in substantial financial losses and reputational damage. Given that Pakistan comprises one of the most robust and tech-driven freelancing professionals associated with the world’s leading online organizations, uninterrupted, smooth, and fastest online connectivity is the lifeline of business and trading across all sectors. Thus, the importance of interrupted data flow and unrestricted web connectivity cannot be overstated. Amidst the acute financial crunch when Pakistan’s economy is in desperate need of dollars, the country can ill afford such counterproductive measures hell-bent on thwarting its fully-operation revenue resources and terminating any prospects for business development along the broad dimensions of structural, strategic, and financial growth. Any delayed access in the fast-moving world of digital communication is akin to the access being denied. Harking back to the words of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, beggars cannot be choosers. However, those disrobing their beggar’s cloak and utilizing the best of their abilities and acquired skills to stand on their own feet while supporting the ailing economy must also be widely encouraged.
Syed Jawaid Iqbal
President & Editor in Chief