NetBlocks confirms WhatsApp outage

KARACHI: Sunday saw WhatsApp users struggling to send and receive messages as the messaging app remained down in most parts of the country, according to data collected by outage tracking website Downdetector.

The website saw complaints spike around 12:45am — a peak of 107 reports within an hour — with users unable to send messages (44 per cent) or make voice calls (40 per cent). Separately, most users complained about facing issues while downloading media files.

According to Downdetector data, Punjab topped the list of affected areas. In Sindh, complaints remained concentrated in Karachi, with some issues reported in Larkana. Even typically quiet Balochistan was not spared, reporting sporadic disruptions later in the day.

In its post on X (formerly Twitter), NetBlocks, a UK-based watchdog organisation that monitors cybersecurity and the government of the internet confirmed the outage: “Live metrics show WhatsApp backends have been restricted in Pakistan corroborating reports of media sharing issues.”

Although the cause of the outage remained unknown, with no official notification from authorities, the timing raised eyebrows. NetBlocks linked the blackout to preemptive government measures, saying that “the measure comes as authorities tighten security ahead of protests [November 24] planned by the opposition party PTI calling for the release of former PM Imran Khan.” To dodge the blackout, most tech-savvy users turned to virtual private networks (VPNs), with some frustrated users, especially freelancers, taking to social media to vent, warning that repeated restrictions on communication platforms could drive young talent out of the country.