The government's attempt to attribute recent internet disruptions to a surge in Virtual Private Network (VPN) usage has sparked a firestorm of criticism from digital rights advocates, businesses, and IT experts.

The explanation, provided by State Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja, has left many unconvinced, raising more questions than answers.

At a recent press briefing, the minister claimed that the surge in VPN usage had placed undue stress on the country's internet infrastructure, leading to significant slowdowns. However, this explanation failed to hold water, leaving many unconvinced.

Digital Rights Advocate Farieha Aziz voiced strong criticism, stating, "The minister should first explain what has caused this sudden surge in VPN use if not their ban on X and more recently the WhatsApp disruption due to which media could not be transferred or downloaded on data."

The expert further added that Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, has already clarified that there is no issue their end and that it is a local fault. "So, what is causing this," Farieha questioned.

The advocate further expressed concern over the government's communication strategy, recalling after earlier saying the firewall is for cyber security, Shaza has now stated that the government has done nothing to the Internet.