IGF 2021 Lightning Talk #20 Connecting The Disconnected: A documentary on internet shutdown in Gilgit Baltistan

Gilgit Baltistan is a region of Pakistan that does not have working internet connection that leads to challenges in acquiring opportunities and communication for the residents. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated these challenges as education and work has moved online. The region has the highest literacy rate in the country at ~ 72%, and despite that they are barred from accessing the opportunities that people in other parts of the country with accessible internet easily acquire. This is the screening of a documentary on internet blackout in Gilgit Baltistan in Pakistan that Media Matters for Democracy is currently working on. The documentary explores testimonies of people from the region, asks them how they survive with lack of internet access, and a commentary on how the gap can be bridged.

The session will start with the introduction of Gilgit Baltistan and the internet blackout that will set the premise for the documentary. This will take around 5 minutes. After this, a 15 minute documentary will be shown, and the last 10 minutes will be reserved to answering questions of the attendees.