Heavy rainfall in Karachi triggered major service disruptions to PTCL internet and Ufone networks, causing nationwide connectivity issues. Since other telecom operators source wholesale internet from PTCL, Jazz, Zong, and Telenor, subscribers also experienced service slowdowns and outages.

Netblocks, a global internet watchdog, confirmed a nationwide disruption, reporting that internet connectivity had dropped to just 20% of ordinary levels.

A PTCL spokesperson acknowledged the outage, saying teams were working to restore services but stopped short of confirming the cause. Sources in the IT and Telecom Ministry indicated the fault likely originated at a submarine cable landing station in Karachi’s Clifton area. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) also confirmed that technical teams were working on the issue.

IT Minister Shaza Fatima attributed the disruptions to power outages, flood damage, and network congestion, noting that Karachi’s 12 million mobile subscribers were heavily impacted. With Ufone offline, load shifted to the remaining three operators, further straining their networks.

Telecom officials highlighted additional challenges, including difficulties in supplying diesel to generators and damage to more than 200 towers, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s flood-affected regions.

As a result, Karachi residents reported telephony blackouts in several areas.