Internet services partially restored in parts of AJK after 48 days suspension

Internet services were partially restored in parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir AJK on Thursday after being suspended for 48 days following restrictions imposed in the wake of the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) long march and sit-in call in Rawalakot on June 5.

Internet services were restored in Mirpur city, Afzalpur, Chakswari, Mangla Hamlet, Islamgarh, Kotli and Bhimber on Thursday evening. However, connectivity remained unavailable in other parts of AJK, where restoration is expected to be carried out in phases before the general elections.

The extended suspension severely disrupted communications, online banking, business activities and government services, leaving thousands of consumers without Internet access. Businesses that depended on digital payments suffered financial losses, while students, freelancers, government offices and professionals struggled to carry out routine work.

Although connectivity was restored in parts of AJK, users continued to report intermittent disruptions and slow internet speeds.

The 48-day suspension sparked widespread frustration among residents, many of whom said the shutdown had hampered communications, delayed financial transactions and affected routine official work. The outage also underscored the region’s reliance on digital connectivity and raised concerns about the vulnerability of AJK’s communications infrastructure.

Officials said internet restoration will continue in phases, with services expected to resume in Muzaffarabad division during the next phase of the process.

Earlier, Pakistan People’s Party AJK President Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin wrote to AJK Chief Election Commissioner, retired Ghulam Mustafa Mughal, urging the authorities to restore internet services across AJK.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also raised the issue during his public election rallies in AJK and urged the authorities to immediately restore internet services to facilitate businesses, students and the public.

READ: Bilawal promises greater constitutional rights, calls for restoration of internet in AJK

Residents and members of the freelance community welcomed the partial restoration but urged the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and service providers to waive internet charges for June and July, arguing that consumers should not be billed for services that remained unavailable during the extended suspension.

After the restoration of internet services in Mirpur Division, Bilawal thanked the concerned authorities and Mughal and urged the PTA to increase internet speed across AJK.