Internet still banned in Gilgit-Baltistan, online traders and students face trouble

It has been over a fortnight since the sectarian tensions between the Shia majority in Gilgit Baltistan and the Sunni community boiled into massive protests against Islamabad and its new amendment in blasphemy laws, reports ANI.

Internet service in Gilgit-Baltistan is available in only a few pockets.

Students complained about shutting down the internet in the locality disrupted their online education schedule.

“Due to the unavailability of internet services for the last 15 days, our studies have been disrupted. We request the administration to restore the internet services” a student from Gilgit city told ANI.

People are feeling frustrated as their business is also hit due to the non-availability of the internet.

A small businessman providing financial services to locals, told ANI, “I work for Easypaisa (a financial services app). About 20-25 Easypaisa retailers are doing business in this area. All of them are unemployed these days. Due to the internet shutdown over the last 20 days, all of us are out of work. We urge the administration to restore internet services as it would enable us to start our businesses again.”