WhatsApp and other social media platforms in Pakistan are currently experiencing widespread disruptions. Users have reported issues downloading audio, video messages, and pictures, with error messages such as, “Couldn’t download the document. Try again. If the problem keeps happening, try connecting to Wi-Fi.”
The problems began on Friday, August 9, and continue to affect millions of users. Despite the widespread impact, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has minimized the issue, attributing it to a “technical glitch.”
WhatsApp, a crucial messaging platform in Pakistan with 52.3 million users as of 2024, is central to many daily communications. The current disruption, while not directly linked to previous incidents, raises ongoing concerns about connectivity issues in the region. However, it is speculated that the disruptions might be caused due to the alleged implementation/testing of the firewall by govt.