Internet services in Azad Kashmir have remained suspended for 37 consecutive days, leaving the public, students, traders, journalists and thousands of people dependent on online work facing severe difficulties. The shutdown began on June 6 and has continued without restoration since then.
Mobile companies operating in the region, apart from the Special Communications Organisation (SCO), have continued to charge users for internet packages that could not be used during the blackout.
Internet users say that millions of subscribers have collectively suffered financial losses running into crores of rupees because active packages remained unused throughout the shutdown period.
According to public, social and political circles, the extended blackout has disrupted daily life across Azad Kashmir and has also had a significant impact on ongoing political activities and the election campaign in the region.
Online campaigning by various political parties and candidates has been almost completely suspended, while timely delivery of information to the public has also been affected.
In remote areas of Azad Kashmir in particular, mobile, GPON and DSL internet services are provided by the SCO. The organisation has not charged internet fees for the month of June from GPON and DSL users.
In a message sent to subscribers, the SCO stated that charges would not be collected for the days on which GPON and DSL internet service remained unavailable due to the disruption.
Internet users have welcomed the step taken by the SCO and have called on other internet providers to follow the same approach. They are demanding that these companies either refund the amounts lost due to inactive packages since June 6 or adjust these amounts once internet services are fully restored.
