Pakistan is facing another spell of sluggish internet connectivity after officials confirmed that multiple submarine cables had been damaged off the coast of Yemen, severely affecting nationwide service.

The revelation came during a special session of the National Assembly Standing Committee on IT and Telecom, chaired by Ameenul Haq, at the Islamabad IT Park. Lawmakers expressed frustration, questioning why users continue to suffer despite new infrastructure projects in the pipeline.

The IT and Telecom Secretary disclosed that four to five submarine cables had been damaged, with at least two directly linked to Pakistan. While traffic has been rerouted through alternate paths, the adjustment has slowed speeds significantly. Repairs could take four to five weeks due to the need for specialized ships.

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Looking ahead, officials highlighted that three new submarine cables are expected to land in Pakistan within the next 12 to 18 months, strengthening connectivity with Europe. Agreements for these projects have already been finalized.

For now, however, millions of users — from students and remote workers to e-commerce businesses — continue to face disruption. Experts caution that without stronger redundancy and faster recovery systems, Pakistan’s digital economy will remain vulnerable to such shocks.