Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram to Slow Down in Pakistan. Millions of users across Pakistan should expect slow Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram services as Meta prepares for a large-scale system maintenance window. The slowdown will begin at 1 AM on 11 December 2025 and continue until 1 PM on 12 December 2025, making it one of Meta’s longest scheduled outages in recent months.
Meta Confirms 36-Hour Maintenance
Meta has officially announced that its engineering team will perform core infrastructure upgrades during this period. These upgrades aim to boost long-term system reliability, but they will cause temporary service degradation.
Users may face:
- Slow loading on Facebook and Instagram
- Delays in WhatsApp message delivery
- Difficulty uploading stories, reels, and posts
- Intermittent call drops on WhatsApp
- Random disconnections during browsing or messaging
According to Meta, the maintenance is necessary to support growing traffic across South Asia and strengthen backend systems.
PTCL Issues Warning to Pakistani Users
PTCL, one of Pakistan’s largest internet providers, has officially notified its customers about the expected disruption. The company stated that Meta’s work may affect user experience even if the local internet connection is stable.
PTCL explained that the slowdown will occur on Meta’s side, not due to Pakistani ISPs. The provider clarified that this activity is part of Meta’s global improvement plan.
Industry analysts note that it is unusual for PTCL to report maintenance “on behalf of Meta,” raising questions about communication between Meta and Pakistani telecom operators.
Why the Slowdown Matters for Businesses
The 36-hour window is expected to impact:
- Online businesses relying on Facebook Pages and Instagram Shops
- Social media marketers who run active campaigns
- Customer support teams using WhatsApp Business
- SMEs depending on WhatsApp for order confirmations and daily communication
Digital experts warn that delays may disrupt:
- Order processing for e-commerce brands
- Real-time customer engagement
- WhatsApp Business API operations
- Social media ad delivery and analytics
Small and medium businesses could see slower responses, reduced traffic, and lower conversions during peak hours. Many brands may need to shift communication to SMS or alternative channels.
Why Meta Is Performing This Upgrade
Meta’s systems handle billions of interactions daily. Engineers carry out periodic large-scale maintenance to:
- Improve server reliability
- Reduce future downtime
- Strengthen global traffic handling
- Enhance app security
Such upgrades are usually done quietly, but the extended timing suggests major backend changes.
What Users Should Do
To avoid frustration during the slowdown:
- Expect delays in WhatsApp calls and messages
- Avoid sending large files or media
- Plan business communication ahead of time
- Use alternative platforms if urgent
- Do not reinstall apps, as it will not fix the temporary issue
Users are advised to stay patient during this period and resume normal activity after 1 PM on 12 December 2025.
Conclusion
Meta planned 36-hour maintenance will cause noticeable slowdowns across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp in Pakistan. With PTCL issuing an early warning, users and businesses can prepare for delayed communication and temporary disruptions. Although inconvenient, the upgrade is expected to improve Meta’s long-term performance and stability for millions of Pakistani users.
