Muhammad Saleem

The high-speed and affordable internet is no longer a luxury—it’s a lifeline for Pakistan’s digital economy. Hammad Ahmed, an e-commerce store owner, talking to WealthPk said that an affordable internet helps scores of people, particularly women, to open new doors for earning. He said digital businesses, from startups to small enterprises, require speedy and affordable internet to reach customers.

He said that better internet connectivity ensures easier access to markets, communication, and innovation. This, in turn, creates jobs and supports much-needed economic growth, he added. “Affordable internet can be a powerful tool for inclusive development across the country, as digital literacy and online shopping trends are gaining ground with every passing day.” He noted that customers select products online by watching promotional videos, brochures and other sorts of posts.

However, slow internet speeds often frustrate customers, who prefer to leave a page or website rather than wait for downloads. This situation hurts the e-commerce business and lowers government tax revenue, he added. Sheikh Ahmed, CEO of a tech company, told WealthPK that the internet has become a crucial part of our lives, enabling people to gain knowledge of the latest technologies around the world.

He said that artificial intelligence is currently transforming every segment of life, and even users in remote areas are benefiting from this innovation with the help of the internet. He noted that without high-speed internet, the users could not load the latest videos. When we launched our company a couple of years ago, internet costs were high, and the speed was unstable in many parts of the country.

However, the situation is now improving due to the introduction of advanced technologies across the globe. He said that with improved connectivity, they are now able to share even large video files with clients to get their feedback. He also pointed out that clients from wealthy countries frequently hire freelancers from Pakistan due to their skills and competitive prices. However, slow internet and occasional complete shutdowns are creating a plethora of problems for them, he claimed.

“To truly benefit from innovation and help our youth compete on a global level, we must provide affordable and high-speed internet. Poor connectivity compels international clients to look elsewhere. In the freelancing world, competition is tough, and beyond the freelancer’s skills, internet speed plays a critical role in delivering services,” he added.

Mohsin Ali, a search engine optimization expert, said that the fast and reliable internet is driving inclusive growth globally by empowering entrepreneurs to connect with clients more easily. He noted that in Pakistan, we are facing a tough situation as slow speeds and frequent disruptions are hindering progress and putting e-commerce ventures in an outlandish situation. Similarly, he said, freelancers are also losing valuable business opportunities.

He appreciated that over the past decade, Pakistan has seen a significant drop in internet costs, mainly due to competition among telecom providers and government initiatives. However, he pointed out that the frequent disruptions and even complete shutdowns in recent years have caused enormous losses for the freelancing industry.

“My company offers services to clients in different countries, and we prefer to schedule meetings at night to avoid internet issues. Major e-commerce platforms, including Amazon, Alibaba, AliExpress, eBay, Etsy, and others, generate billions of rupees in business thanks to the internet. They would not earn a single penny if their host countries imposed restrictions on domain connectivity,” he added.

He said that affordable internet access enables more people,  especially in rural and semi-urban areas, to go online to make purchases or sell their skills and products. Internet speed is a game-changer for businesses, as it opens up new markets and connects people who were previously isolated, he claimed.

Credit: INP-WealthPk