A wave of rumours has swept through Pakistan’s online space, with social media users expressing alarm over claims of a supposed 18-hour nationwide internet suspension.

Posts circulating on X (formerly Twitter) allege that internet services across Pakistan will be disrupted for 18 hours starting from 11am on Tuesday (today).

The rumour mill gained further traction as multiple users echoed similar warnings, amplifying uncertainty among netizens.

One viral post read: “Nationwide Internet Shutdown for 18 Hours Starting 11 AM Tomorrow.”

The striking similarity between several such posts suggests a coordinated spread of misinformation that has fueled public concern.

Another user wrote, “The internet in Pakistan is about to shut down in some time. God knows what’s going to happen during that period.”

Several others have shared comparable messages, claiming that internet connectivity would remain suspended across the country for 18 hours — though no official confirmation has been issued so far.

Degradation, partial disruption

However, none of these rumours are true and the internet is not going to be down in the country for 18 hours or any other time period.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has only warned of internet degradation or partial disruption due to maintenance work on one of its submarine cables.

“A maintenance activity is planned on one of our Submarine cables to repair a faulty repeater. The activity will start on October 14, 2025 around 11am PST which can last for up to 18 hours,” the authority said in a statement.

During this period, users across Pakistan may face slow internet speeds or intermittent connectivity issues. The spokesperson expressed regret over the inconvenience caused.