The Punjab government has requested a mobile and internet suspension in parts of Rawalpindi and Attock from September 27 as part of security arrangements for an expected law and order situation. The request has been sent by the Punjab Home Department to the Federal Ministry of Interior, which must approve it before any action can be taken.
According to the Home Department’s letter, authorities have asked for the downgrading and jamming of 2G, 3G and 4G mobile networks at specified locations in Rawalpindi. Similar restrictions have also been requested for Attock district. Officials have made it clear that the request concerns selected areas only and is not a province-wide shutdown.
The department said the step was requested by the police to help maintain law and order. A Punjab Home Department spokesperson said that protecting the lives and property of the public remains the provincial government’s top priority, and that temporary restrictions on communication services are sometimes needed during sensitive situations.
Areas Where Mobile and Internet Services Could Be Affected
The request covers specified locations inside Rawalpindi City, but the exact date and time for those areas will be communicated separately. Residents in the city are therefore advised to follow official announcements for updates about their neighbourhoods.
Along the M-1 motorway and surrounding routes, the Home Department has requested that mobile and internet services be downgraded or jammed from 12:00 AM on September 27. The listed areas include Brahma Bahtar, Ganjoo, Ahata, Taxila City, Wah Saddar, Thallian and Chakri. These locations lie on important routes connecting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
In addition, the Home Department has requested the downgrading of mobile and internet services throughout Attock district from September 27. Attock is a key entry point from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa into Punjab, and security has already been tightened at several crossings and bridges in the district.
The request comes as authorities strengthen security across Rawalpindi, Attock, Taxila and Islamabad ahead of a planned march towards the federal capital. Containers have been placed at several major crossings, and additional police and Rangers deployment has also been requested in parts of Punjab.
What Users Should Know Before September 27
It is important to note that these restrictions require approval and action by the relevant federal authorities before they can be implemented. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority only suspends or slows down services after receiving formal instructions from the Ministry of Interior, and until then mobile networks continue to operate normally.
Residents, students and businesses in the affected areas should prepare in advance in case the request is approved. It is a good idea to download important documents, complete online payments and banking tasks early, and keep a landline or fixed broadband connection available where possible. Freelancers and remote workers may also want to inform their clients about possible disruptions.
Mobile internet suspensions have been used several times in Pakistan during protests and security operations, and they often cause major problems for online businesses, ride-hailing drivers, delivery riders and digital payment users. Telecom operators usually share service updates with customers through SMS once any official order is received, so users should keep an eye on messages from their network.
Latest update: PTA says it has received no order yet to suspend internet on September 27.
