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P@SHA’s official statement on National Firewall

The Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) unequivocally condemns the grave consequences of the hastily implemented national firewall. The booming IT industry is facing a disaster, grappling with unprecedented operational disruptions that threaten the very foundation of Pakistan’s burgeoning tech sector. The imposition of the firewall has triggered a perfect storm of challenges, with prolonged internet disconnections and erratic VPN performance threatening a complete meltdown of business operations. These disruptions are not mere inconveniences but a direct and aggressive assault on the industry’s viability, inflicting devastating financial losses estimated to reach at $300 million, which can further increase exponentially.
“If you tighten your grip on the IT sector, remember this is going to be the bottleneck of this nation’s economy!” stated Muhammad Aamir, CEO of AXCEL, an IT Company.
The government’s inexplicable opacity and ambiguity surrounding the firewall’s design and objectives have ignited a firestorm of distrust among global clients. They fear their proprietary data and privacy will be compromised, which only serves to erode the hard earned trust and confidence in Pakistan’s IT capabilities. This constitutes a blatant disregard
for the industry’s reputation and a perilous gamble with the nation’s economic future. A mass exodus of IT companies is not just a possibility but an imminent reality if immediate and decisive action is not taken. The industry is at a critical crossroads, facing a stark choice: to persevere in a hostile environment or seek refuge in more conducive ecosystems. This is not a mere warning but an urgent and unavoidable consequence.
“Clients are looking for reliable partners. Even if they want to give projects to us due to relationship development, they still prefer not to due to their perception of our unreliable connectivity,” stated an anonymous source within the industry.
P@SHA demands an immediate and unconditional halt to this digital siege. We insist on a comprehensive, transparent, and collaborative approach to cybersecurity—one that does not sacrifice the IT industry at the altar of misplaced priorities. The government must engage in genuine dialogue with industry stakeholders to develop a cybersecurity framework that safeguards national interests without stifling innovation and growth. “The economy is a national security priority. Unfortunately, without consultation an damaging repercussions for the fastest-growing export sector, we see a careless and reckless implementation of the national firewall that threatens to strangle the IT industry before its maturity.
The internet, its reliability, quality, and throughput are of national interest. Anyone acting against it should question their motives.”– Said Ali Ahsan, Senior Vice Chairman, of Pakistan IT Industry Association.
We urge the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom (MoITT) to take swift and decisive action to rectify this grave situation. Failure to do so will have far-reaching consequences for Pakistan’s economy and its standing as a global technology hub. The IT industry is a critical engine of growth; it is a
lifeline for the nation’s future. We strongly urge the government to establish a joint committee comprising representatives from all relevant stakeholders. This committee’s primary objective should be to
collaboratively develop a detailed scope and implementation plan. By doing so, the goal is to ensure that any changes or initiatives are rolled out smoothly, thereby minimizing disruptions to business operations.

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