Mobile phone and internet services have begun restoring in Mirpur city and its adjoining areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir following a 45 day disruption. Connectivity had remained suspended across the region for more than six weeks, affecting residents, local businesses, and routine communication throughout the area during that period.
The restoration comes as the region prepares for upcoming elections, with Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Election Commissioner Ghulam Mustafa Mughal having announced a three phase electoral schedule beginning July 27. Under that schedule, Mirpur Division will vote first, followed by Muzaffarabad Division on August 2 and Poonch Division on August 10, giving added urgency to restoring normal communication channels ahead of the polling dates.
The gradual return of mobile and internet connectivity in Mirpur follows a period of prolonged disruption that had left residents and businesses without reliable digital access for an extended stretch. Extended service suspensions of this kind create significant strain for local commerce, education, and day to day communication, particularly in regions where mobile networks serve as the primary means of connectivity for much of the population. With services now resuming, attention will likely turn to whether restoration extends fully across the broader region in the lead up to the phased election schedule.
Authorities and telecom stakeholders monitoring the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir will be watching closely to see how quickly full connectivity is reestablished across affected areas, given the operational importance of stable mobile and internet access during an active election period. The Mirpur restoration adds to a broader pattern across Pakistan and its administered territories in which connectivity disruptions, whatever their cause, tend to draw significant public and political attention given how central mobile services have become to daily life and economic activity in recent years.
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