Facebook, WhatsApp users may experience disruption for next 36 hours

The Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) warned on Thursday that users of Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and other Meta-owned services may experience potential disruptions over a 36-hour period starting at 1 a.m. on December 11.

The advisory issued by PTCL says that the disruption can continue until 1 p.m. on December 12 as planned technical maintenance will be underway, effecting service quality even for users with stable internet connections. 

According to PTCL the maintenance activity could result in delays in message delivery, longer loading times, and abrupt outages across the Meta platforms. The notice was issued to alert customers after receiving complaints about disruptions in recent days. 

However, Meta itself has not officially confirmed the specific maintenance schedule or details. Tech industry sources and Meta’s AI-based tool have advised users to verify any outage notifications via official Meta status pages or business channels, warning that unofficial messages circulating on social media or SMS may be misleading.

Extended maintenance windows like these can disrupt everyday communication and business operations in Pakistan, especially for freelancers, small enterprises, and digital marketers who heavily rely on Meta apps for work. 

While routine maintenance is normal practice to enhance platform security and performance, both users and businesses are being advised to plan for potential service variances through the maintenance period and to seek updates from official Meta channels if disruptions occur.