QUETTA:
The Balochistan government on Friday suspended mobile internet services across Quetta for 24 hours in response to intelligence-based security alerts, provincial interior ministry officials confirmed.
The decision, aimed at preventing any potential unrest, will remain in effect until midnight. Authorities said the measure was part of a wider effort to maintain law and order in the provincial capital, where security has been put on high alert.
The city’s Red Zone – which houses key government offices and installations – has been heavily fortified, with police, Frontier Corps (FC) and paramilitary units deployed at sensitive locations in Quetta.
The move followed a letter to the interior ministry in which the provincial government requested the suspension of 3G and 4G services in Quetta on October 31, citing a “peculiar law and order situation” and heightened threat perceptions.
Officials said the move was necessary to protect public life and property in view of the security concerns. However, the blackout disrupted daily life for thousands of citizens, including students, traders and professionals who rely heavily on digital connectivity for work and education.
This is not the first time the province has faced communication restrictions. Many residents expressed frustration and urged the government to explore less disruptive alternatives during such emergency measures.
Mobile data services were earlier suspended for over two weeks in August before being restored following an order by the Balochistan High Court. The latest suspension comes against the backdrop of worsening security conditions in the province.
