Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when the Government was first made aware that internet in the state of Punjab in India was to be cut off.

We are not aware of any internet blackouts in the State of Punjab. Broadband services continue to operate as normal. The Punjab Government suspended all mobile internet services and some SMS and dongle in the territorial jurisdiction of Punjab from 19 March 2023 at 12:00. Mobile internet and SMS services have since been restored in all districts except Tarn Taran and Ferozepur. Broadband services have remained operational throughout.