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Summary

While there are now over 20 million Pakistanis online – a number which is growing rapidly –

there is very little documentation or research on how the internet is being used in the country.

This online survey, conducted through The Express Tribune and Express Urdu websites aimed

to capture a snapshot of the local internet user’s perspective. Both English and Urdu sites and

their social media accounts were used to promote the survey in order to capture a wider, more

diverse audience. The survey was conducted over July 28-29, 2013.

A total of 1,100 respondents filled out the survey, of which 18-25 year olds make up over half of

total respondents, followed by 25-35 year olds. The survey also highlighted a large gender

disparity in respondents, with males dominating. This trend has been highlighted in the past;

Pakistan’s Facebook audience was 70% male, 30% female as of April 2013.

The vast majority of respondents (94%) are from urban areas, led by Karachi, Lahore and

Islamabad.

Key findings

Laptops are the most used device (81% of total respondents) to connect to the internet. Mobile

phones (65%) outranked desktop computers (47%) for accessing the internet.

A vast majority of respondents (97%) have high speed internet connections. Dial-up internet use

is almost negligible.

Over half of respondents (60%) pay Rs1,500 or less per month for their internet connections. A

majority of respondents use the internet over 5 hours a day, followed by those who use the

internet 4-5 hours a day. Over 90% of respondents often use the internet at home, as compared

to often outside (16%) and often at work (52%).

Social networks/chatting is the number one activity for respondents, followed closely by email and news. Shopping online registered low with respondents. Nearly all respondents are on Facebook. Twitter and LinkedIn are both used by at least half of respondents. More than half of respondents say they have befriended someone on a social network whom they have never met. Additionally, 41% say they have met someone in the real world whom they have only met online. Over 30% of respondents say they have become romantically involved through the internet. More than half of respondents have made a purchase online. A greater number of respondents (56%) have made a purchase online, as compared to selling something online (26%). More than half of respondents never click on an online ad. In terms of video content, entertainment, news and educational videos all ranked high for respondents. Respondents indicated they access videos nearly equally for news/documentaries, movies/movie clips and music. A majority of respondents (82%) have used proxies or other means to access blocked content.

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AGE

HIGHLIGHTS

A vast majority of respondents are young. This is to be expected given Pakistan’s youth bulge

and previous reports that have shown a similar breakup.

18-25 year olds make up over half of total respondents, followed by 25-35 year olds.

5%

56%

32%

7%

Under 18 18-25 25-35 Over 35

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SEX

HIGHLIGHTS

There is a large gender disparity in respondents, with males dominating.

This trend has been highlighted in the past; Pakistan’s Facebook audience was 70% male, 30%

female as of April 2013.

Further disparity in this survey may be due to it being conducted on news websites.

87%

13%

Male Female

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LOCATION

HIGHLIGHTS

The vast majority of respondents (94%) are from urban areas.

Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad have the largest number of respondents.

30%

24%

21%

19%

6%

Karachi

Lahore

Islamabad

Other (urban area)

Other (rural area)

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Which of the following devices do you use to connect to the internet?

HIGHLIGHTS

Laptops are the most used device to connect to the internet.

Mobile phones (30%) outranked desktop computers for accessing the internet.

22%

37%

11%

30%

Desktop computer Laptop Tablet Mobile phone

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How do you connect to the internet?

HIGHLIGHTS

A vast majority of respondents have high speed internet connections.

Dial-up internet use is almost negligible.

2%

72%

26%

Dial-up Broadband/DSL/Wifi or other high speed connection Mobile

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How much do you spend per month on your internet connection(s)?

HIGHLIGHTS

Over half of respondents (60%) pay Rs1,500 or less per month for their internet connections.

INSIGHT

Those over 35 had a much higher percentage (14%) of those who spent over Rs3,000 per month.

7%

53%

33%

7%

Below Rs500 Rs500-1,500 Rs1,500-3,000 Over Rs3,000

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How many hours do you use the internet daily?

HIGHLIGHTS

A majority of respondents use the internet over 5 hours a day, followed by those who use the

internet 4-5 hours a day.

INSIGHT

25-35 year olds spend the most time on the internet (64% said they were online over 5 hours),

while both those over 35 and those under 18 spent less time online (49% over 5 hours each).

Males used the internet for longer hours than females. 60% of males said they use the internet

over 5 hours a day, compared to 52% of females.

2%

4%

15%

20% 59%

0-1 hours 1-2 hours 2-3 hours 4-5 hours Over 5 hours

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What time do you generally use the internet?

HIGHLIGHTS

A majority of respondents indicate they consider themselves always connected to the internet.

Night time had the highest number of users, out of the periods of day listed.

INSIGHT

Those over 35 indicated they were always connected more than other age groups – 76% of those

over 35 said they were always connected.

4% 4%

9%

19%

64%

Morning

Afternoon

Evening

Night

Always connected

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Where do you use the internet? Outside

Home

Work

HIGHLIGHTS

Over 90% of respondents often use the internet at home.

16%

60%

24%

0 20 40 60 80 100

Often

Sometimes

Never

92%

7%

1%

0 20 40 60 80 100

Often

Sometimes

Never

52%

28%

20%

0 20 40 60 80 100

Often

Sometimes

Never

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How often do you use the internet for the following activities?

Note: Each bar indicates answers of total respondents to the label below.

HIGHLIGHTS

Social networks/chatting is the number one activity for respondents (83% often use), followed closely by email (76%) and news (75%). Shopping online registered low with respondents. INSIGHT

Females used the internet for education/research a lot more than males. 76% of females said they often used the internet for education/research, while only 61% of males said the same. Older age is directly linked to greater email use, with those over 35 using email often the most, and those under 18 using email often the least. This was seen across all age groups.

83% 76% 75%

63% 63% 58%

22%

11%

15% 22% 23%

35% 28% 37%

55%

44%

2% 2% 2% 2%

9% 5%

23%

45%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Often Sometimes Never

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Younger age is directly linked to using the internet for entertainment, with those under 18 using the internet for entertainment often the most, and those over 35, the least. This was seen across all age groups. Those under 18 used the internet for religious purposes more than other age groups, with 32% indicating they use the internet often for religious purposes. Those over 35 used the internet for religious purposes the least, with 16% indicating usage often. Those aged 25-35 and over 35 used the internet for work more than the younger age groups. Females indicated they used the internet for work often (70% of all females) more than males (62% of all males).

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Have you ever:

Note: Each bar indicates answers of total respondents to the label below.

HIGHLIGHTS

More than half of respondents say they have befriended someone on a social network whom they have never met. Additionally, 41% say they have met someone in the real world whom they have only met online. Reports of online harassment were low, possibly due to gender disparity of respondents. Over 30% of respondents say they have become romantically involved through the internet. A small but significant number (17%) say they have hacked into an online account or website.

Becomeromantically involved

throughthe

internet

Hadsomeonegive you

falseinformatio

n aboutthemselve

s online

Givenyour

passwordto a friend

orsomeoneyou know

Pretendedto be a

differentpersononline

Hacked/tried to hack

into anonline

account/website

Earnedmoneyonline

Facedonline

harassment

Befriended peopleon socialnetworks

whom youhave never

met

Metsomeonein the realworld youhave only

met online

Series 1 32% 36% 27% 27% 17% 21% 13% 59% 41%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

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Which of the following social networks are you on?

Note: Each bar indicates answers of total respondents to the label below.

HIGHLIGHTS

Nearly all respondents are on Facebook. Twitter and LinkedIn are both used by at least half of respondents.

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram Pinterest Tumblr

Series 1 96 69 50 21 11 10

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

96%

69%

50%

11%10%

21%

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Have you ever purchased/sold anything online?

HIGHLIGHTS

More than half of respondents have made a purchase online. A greater number of respondents (56%) have made a purchase online, as compared to selling something online (26%). INSIGHT

Those aged 18-25 and 25-35 indicated they had made a purchase online more than those over 35 and under 18. 65% of those 25-35 have made a purchase online, while 51% of those 18-25 have bought something online. Far more males indicated they have sold something online, as compared to females. Only 11% of females said they have sold something online, as compared to 28% of males.

56%

44%

Purchased online

Yes No

26%

74%

Sold online

Yes No

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Do you use a webcam?

HIGHLIGHTS

Most respondents use a webcam only sometimes (60%).

21%

60%

19%

Often Sometimes Never

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Do you access videos online?

HIGHLIGHTS

Almost all respondents access videos online.

92%

8%

Yes No

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What kind of content do you generally access on video hosting sites?

Note: Each bar indicates answers of total respondents to the label below.

HIGHLIGHTS

Entertainment, news and education all ranked high for respondents. Respondents indicated they access videos nearly equally for news/documentaries, movies/movie clips and music. Religious content is the least viewed.

MusicMovies/movi

e clips

Videos fromfriends/peer

s

News/documentaries

Educationalcontent

Religiouscontent

Other

Series 1 75 76 61 76 68 42 31

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

75% 76% 61% 76% 68% 42% 31%

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Have you ever used a proxy or other means to access blocked content?

HIGHLIGHTS

A majority of respondents (82%) have used proxies or other means to access blocked content.

82%

18%

Yes No

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Do you have a blog/have published a blog post online?

HIGHLIGHTS

More than half of respondents do not have a blog/have not published a post online.

37%

63%

Yes No

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How often do you browse?

HIGHLIGHTS

A greater number of respondents browse foreign sites more often (84%) than Pakistani ones (64%).

64%

33%

3%

0 20 40 60 80 100

Often

Sometimes

Never

Pakistani sites

84%

15%

1%

0 20 40 60 80 100

Often

Sometimes

Never

Foreign sites

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How often do you click an online ad?

HIGHLIGHTS

More than half of respondents never click on an online ad. INSIGHT

Those who are younger click on online ads far less. 67% of those under 18 said they never click online ads, as compared to those over 35 (51%). This was seen across all age groups. Females are more unlikely to click an online ad, as compared to males. 57% of females say they have never clicked on an online ad, as compared to 51% of males.

4%

39%

57%

Often Sometimes Never