Pakistan’s China-style firewall is rattling its tech industry as internet speeds dropped by up to 40% and entrepreneurs fear they will end up benefiting Chinese apps

• In July, the Pakistan government said it was implementing an internet firewall to protect the country from cyberattacks.
• Tech industry experts believe the moves to install the firewall and filter content have led to internet disruption.
• Entrepreneurs said the firewall will make it harder for them to raise funds and end up benefiting Chinese apps.

Many Pakistani tech entrepreneurs and industry experts are worried about the industry’s future as they believe the firewall would cut them off from the world. They say the government is trying to imitate its close ally China — which has the world’s largest and most sophisticated internet firewall — without having a similar domestic infrastructure to support its move. The internet firewall could cost Pakistan’s economy $300 million, according to the tech industry body Pakistan Software Houses Association.