WhatsApp users in Pakistan face disruption

Islamabad: WhatsApp and other social media users across Pakistan are experiencing widespread disruptions.

Many users have reported difficulties downloading audio, video messages, and pictures on WhatsApp, with some receiving error messages such as, “Couldn’t download the document. Try again. If the problem keeps happening, try connecting to Wi-Fi.”

Despite the ongoing issues, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has downplayed the situation, suggesting it may be due to a "technical glitch."
The disruption has left millions of users frustrated, as WhatsApp is one of the most widely used messaging platforms in Pakistan, with 52.3 million users according to a 2024 report by the World Population Review.

This incident comes just months after a major internet setback in April, when the fiber optic cable connecting Singapore to Pakistan and Europe was damaged near Indonesia.

The damage affected internet access across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, causing widespread connectivity issues.

Although the current WhatsApp disruption has not been directly linked to this previous incident, the recurring connectivity problems are a cause for concern for many users in the region.